Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: jarigo on June 06, 2011, 20:10

Title: onions
Post by: jarigo on June 06, 2011, 20:10

Hi can anyone tell me when it is best to feed onions and what with if anything.Mine are all approx. one foot high.Many thanks in advance.

Title: Re: onions
Post by: plum crumble on June 06, 2011, 20:26

a low nitrogen feed - something like Chempak 8 - this encourages root growth, rather than foliage. Can feed weekly now, but not after July really.  cheers!

Title: Re: onions
Post by: jarigo on June 07, 2011, 17:43

Many thanks plum crumble.

Title: Re: onions
Post by: webby139 on June 08, 2011, 10:00

I fed mine on general alround plant food if i'm honest.
They look like they are bulbing up well.
Hope they taste as good as they look though eh !!!!!!

Is there a reason why you don't feed after july Plum Crumble ???

Thanks

 :unsure: :unsure: :unsure:

Title: Re: onions
Post by: prakash_mib on June 08, 2011, 10:09

I top dress them with atleast one dose of wood ash which has got potash. being organic I normally feed them BFB once.

Title: Re: onions
Post by: Motivator on June 08, 2011, 11:33

Comfrey tea is a good one .

Title: Re: onions
Post by: plum crumble on June 08, 2011, 12:55

well - any all purpose feed is good, although onions aren't really a hungry crop. I recommended low nitrogen, as nitrogen encourages top growth, which you don't want with onions. The reason not to feed after July is that you will be wasting your time as they won't bulk up anymore. You won't harm the crop, but you will be wasting time and money!

Title: Re: onions
Post by: whiskywill on June 08, 2011, 13:01

Quote from: plum crumble on June 06, 2011, 20:26

a low nitrogen feed - something like Chempak 8 - this encourages root growth, rather than foliage. Can feed weekly now, but not after July really.  cheers!

A high nitrogen feed would be better at least until mid July. The more foliage, the more layers of onion, the larger the onion. From mid July onwards change to a high potash feed to aid ripening and improve storage

Title: Re: onions
Post by: plum crumble on June 08, 2011, 13:04

 :nowink: ah now you see - you will get as many opinions as you have gardeners!!!  ::)