[GrowinGrowinGone]

Today as recommended on the website I got the seed from (realseed), I have put my Sturon Onion seed in for next years onions.  Has anyone else tried doing onions from seed this time of year?  Just curious what peoples results was.  Thanks.

[sowitgrowit]

I'm also interested in this as I read i can do it with Ailsa Craig from seed during the autumn...

[BabbyAnn]

 I have grown Kosma and Senshyu Yellow from seed sown direct in late August for a couple of years now with better success than trying to sow summer onions in early spring.  I too got some Sturon seed from the Real Seeds Catalogue and going to try them this year    I also decided to look up other varieties and was surprised that there are in fact a few so I'll be sowing a few different ones that I already have seed to see which ones do well or not (call it an experiment - it could go badly wrong but nothing wrong with trying)

I'm also interested in this as I read i can do it with Ailsa Craig from seed during the autumn...

I think the window for sowing onion SEED (not sets) is mid to late August/early September (and also depends on location - from the midlands and further south probably do better than those in more northerly regions) ... if you try in  autumn, the soil might be too cold for germination.

[sowitgrowit]

Thanks. Ill give my Ailsa Craig seeds a go. I have a tray with cells about 2cm square. Wonder if that would be too small - onion from seed is quite whispy for a while, so hopefully it won't use all the nutrients in the compost on each cell. Should allow me to sow plenty.

[GrowinGrowinGone]

Thanks for the replys folks, knowing someone else has had success with these gives me hope after a terrible crop from sets (all be it bad weather conditions).  I will also look what other varities are available to grow from seed. 

[shoozie]

I'm also interested in this as I read i can do it with Ailsa Craig from seed during the autumn...

I grew Ailsa's from seed this year - sown in January.  The packet says sow Jan- March.  They were grown in 2" seed cells, about 5 to a pot.

[mumofstig]

Ailsa Craig is not an overwintering onion, so I wouldn't think it's a good idea to sow them this early. You would have to keep them growing in a greenhouse or polytunnel until you could plant them out in March.

[Trillium]

Since Ailsa Craigs are long day onions, I'm not sure they'll do well in a fall planting with short days. They need 100 days in long days to do well and to try to start them early in fall will possibly mess up their internal timing and have them set seed early rather than size up.

While having a lovely sweet taste, they are not a keeper.

[sowitgrowit]

Aha! The voice of experience.Thanks folks.

[BabbyAnn]

Since Ailsa Craigs are long day onions, I'm not sure they'll do well in a fall planting with short days. They need 100 days in long days to do well and to try to start them early in fall will possibly mess up their internal timing and have them set seed early rather than size up.

While having a lovely sweet taste, they are not a keeper.

according to Nicky's Nursery, the sowing guide says

Sow Feb-April harvest September, sow August harvest June

I hear what you are saying Trillium and as I've never attempted to sow these or the Sturon seeds in August before, I cannot say whether they will or will not go to seed. Experimenting and trying out a few seeds however will be one way to find out     The Kosma are another one of those sow in August or spring and I have been very pleased with the results so far and like the Senshyu from seed, have had no bolting unlike the sets (as a back up plan) grown in the same season.

[shokkyy]

I think the sowing guide info you're looking at is general info for onions. The same info comes up for all onions, regardless whether or not they're suitable for autumn sowing.

[mobilekat]

I managed to over winter some red Florence shallots (by accident!)

I sowed them last summer, and they never really got going, and they were forgotten.
I had noticed them lurking, thought they were dying and forgot to deal with them!
They died back during the winter, but then came back to life this spring, and grew on quite well, this was only 6-8 plants, and not a true trial, but I am tempted to try this again.
And the flavour- yum very sweet, and superb finely sliced into a salad!

[Trillium]

Babby Ann, I find that information odd for Ailsa Craigs because they truly are a long day onion and August plantings are for short day onions. All North American sources advocate only long day growing seasons, which means the southern USA can't grow very good Ailsa Craigs because they're in short day areas. And vice versa, many of their short day onions won't grow well here. True, they will grow, just not as well as they should or could. You can't always experiment but don't get your hopes too high for a main crop of any sort.

Onions like Sturons and Japanese varieties are a bit different again and you can get away with planting them at other times of the year. Apples and oranges.

[Christine]

I've done Senshyu Yellow a few years back as an experiment which succeeded very well. I'm working up an area to have another go with them this year.

[A Reyt Tayty]

I sowed some Bedfordshire Champion about five months ago in modules (hoping to plant out and get a crop this year). They are now only about big enough to save as sets for next year.