[missmoneypenny]

Have had a lottie for 4 years and each year I try onions. I have been getting diminishing returns and this year was woeful: 1 measly onion out of about 30 planted. I rotate them around the plot but don't do anything special and don't feed them etc. I have no idea why it's so poor, my other crops generally do well. Any advice would be gratefully received.

[ptarmigan]

My onions were very small this year -  I didn't feed them - but I didn't feed them last year and they were much better.   So I think I will feed this year and see if it makes a difference. I do wonder if it wasn't a great year for them though - so it'll be good to see what other people's experiences were.

[snow white]

Don't let your netted brassica tunnel, (next to them,) let loose flappy bits of netting over all your onions during a high wind. 
Big lesson.   

[ptarmigan]

Snow white...oops. 

[missmoneypenny]

Thanks anyone. Any onion maestros out there?  Any more advice?

[Snoop]

I grow lots of onions and have the odd failure, but not that many. I have to say, I always feed them.

What was in the bed before you planted last year's onions? And how did you grow them? Out in the open or under cover?

[sunshineband]

I add Sulphate of Potash to the soil before planting out my autumn sets, as this helps them grow decent roots.

They do not like sharing their space with weeds and need a feed come the Spring -- I use Blood Fish & Bone - and if there is no rain for a month in the Spring I give them a good soak once a fortnight.

When you plant them, dig a small hole, as otherwise the soil beneath the root plate can be very compacted if you have a clay -ish soil

Hope that helps.

I am sure others have further advice 

[Nobbie]

Did you keep them well weeded? They are not good with competition and get easily swamped. The only time I have had very poor crops was due to letting the weeds get out of control early on.

[Robster]

I don't think I do anything special but I do keep them well weeded and fed with BFB throughout, I suppose 2 or 3 good goes in the early, mid then late spring.  Then water if it looks a bit dry.  So pretty much the same as Sunshineband.  I get a few blotters but most are OK

[missmoneypenny]

Thanks guys this is really helpful. I am in london so soil is clay. I do not feed in any way. Can't honestly think what was in soil the year before, i think butternut squashes and courgettes,  or potaoes.
The BFB is news to me and I'll certainly be giving them some come next spring.

[sunshineband]

Thanks guys this is really helpful. I am in london so soil is clay. I do not feed in any way. Can't honestly think what was in soil the year before, i think butternut squashes and courgettes,  or potaoes.
The BFB is news to me and I'll certainly be giving them some come next spring.

I just broadcast it and tickle it into the soil surface with a hand held rake 

[tuckers_luck]

Hi. I suggest you go on to one of the mammoth onion sales sites where they tell you how to make a proper onion bed
apparently they use the same bed for years and don't rotate with the other crops. Hope this helps 
Robinsons quote that there bed is 140 yrs old

[mumofstig]

unfortunately they also advise

The ground will also benefit from a watering of Jeyes Fluid after the crop has been harvested; this again will kill any unwanted bacteria or fungi.

which is now an illegal practice

http://www.exhibition-seed.info/cultivation.htm

[upthetump]

i have to admit i spoil my onions. the bed i am going to grow them in gets the best of last years compost, BFB or onion fertiliser and a splash of miracle gro about 6 weeks before harvesting. they are really greedy feeders in my experience. i planted my winter onions today (late i know) i put them in the summer bed where i grew sturon and sprinkled with BFB. hopefully they will winter ok and get mirqcle gro in early march. after the winter onions i sow peas and after them spring brasiccas. the summer onions start off in a new bed with the best of last years compost and off we go again. in short i think they need lots of feed, i have plenty in store from the summer from 200 sets

[gavinjconway]

Thanks guys this is really helpful. I am in london so soil is clay. I do not feed in any way. Can't honestly think what was in soil the year before, i think butternut squashes and courgettes,  or potaoes.
The BFB is news to me and I'll certainly be giving them some come next spring.

MMP - did you eat this week?  yes.... well the onions need feeding as well!!   Dig in fertilizer when you plant them and they will grow.. some will die in the winter tho..