How are onion sets produced

Stevens706 · « **on:** September 12, 2006, 12:19 »

I know that this might be stupid question, but how are onion sets produced?

I think that they must sow normal onion seeds and stop the plants early when they are small bulbs to be planted next year as sets?

If this is so when do you sow them? as it might be worth sowing onion seed thickly or in a pot now and saving the small bulbs for next year thus saving money by growing your own sets.

Any advice would be welcome

Jake · « **Reply #1 on:** September 12, 2006, 16:48 »

I don't know the real answer to this but the onions I sowed from seed in a seed tray this year just got left. They dried out completely during that really hot july. I had run out of space at the plot and just didn't get aroung to planting them out.

Anyway, just before I moved I planted some in a pot and they sprouted so I presume I had made my own onion sets. They were the size of coctail onions, not like the sets I bought but you know, if it works....

GrannieAnnie · « **Reply #2 on:** September 12, 2006, 20:33 »

Hiya Jake boy, welcome back, how'd the move go?

Jake · « **Reply #3 on:** September 12, 2006, 20:39 »

Quote from: "grannieannie"

Hiya Jake boy, welcome back, how'd the move go?

Thanks for asking. Feel a bit ungrateful at the mo because living at my parents I'm finding really hard. Settled though and looking for place to live. Its hard after being independent for 15 years then going back to asking if its ok if I cook for us. That sort of thing.

Happy to be up here though. Got some good pals who still live here, wifes job going well.

Did John get his greenhouse up? I think I offered to lend a hand. Feel like i've been away for ages! lot of new faces, erm....I mean names.

GrannieAnnie · « **Reply #4 on:** September 12, 2006, 20:52 »

I hope you find somewhere you like soon Jake. I don't think John's greenhouse is up yet, but we have been ribbing him something rotten about it, and I think there's a thread somewhere when he said greenhouse building is imminent!

Yes, aren't there a lot of new names, well over 500 peeps now!!!!!!!

John · « **Reply #5 on:** September 12, 2006, 22:14 »

And a big welcome back to Jake!
As for the greenhouses ... nearly done

Heather_S · « **Reply #6 on:** September 13, 2006, 17:40 »

Most(if not all) onion sets are heat-treated. I assume this is something akin to flash heating like in pasteurising milk. This makes the resulting plants less likely to bolt or so they say...

Stevens706 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 14, 2006, 07:34 »

Heather – Thanks for that, I’ll still might give it a try and will let everyone know how it went and if it’s worth doing

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