[domw001]

Does anyone have any recommendations for preparing onion beds, specifically for sets rather than seed.

I have read that the ground needs to be firm so previously I have dug it through then trod it down to firm but i think that maybe it has been too firm and is restricting growth.

Some online videos I have watched show the soil to be quite loose.

Any advice?

[savbo]

I don't remember ever reading about firming for onions...I've grown onions and shallots for  couple of seasons now in loose soil and they've been fine....

savbo

[Ian_A]

i use fairly loose soil with loads of good compost mixed in and they do well. Have sown in more solid soil and to be honest noted v little difference in the results.

[Aidy]

My prep is as follows, both onions and shallotts... Autumn (oct/nov) put muck on where they are going and leave over winter, I have now dug in and lighty trampled over the row where are going just to firm and when weather is reet then I will pop them in. Not sure if firming works, but had no probs so it aint broken so I wont fix it!

[Kleftiwallah]

One thing I don't do. .  .  is push the sets into the ground, dig a little hole and just cover them leaving a smidge showing.   Cheers,    Tony.

[strangerachael]

Maybe the firming is something to do with trying to prevent birds pulling them out if they're too loose?

[rhysdad]

One thing I don't do. .  .  is push the sets into the ground, dig a little hole and just cover them leaving a smidge showing.   Cheers,    Tony.

I pushed my Japanese overwintering ones in, about an inch, and they are doing fine!!

[Aidy]

I do use my dibber to make the hole, think the theory of pushing is the ground underneath gets compacted and when the onion put a lot of root growth it can lift the bulb and dry the roots etc.

[JayG]

Maybe the firming is something to do with trying to prevent birds pulling them out if they're too loose?

Despite having plenty of blackbirds intent on redistributing any promising looking mulches all over my paths ( ) they tend to leave my planted shallots more or less alone if I trim off any wispy bits before planting (be careful, especially if the bulbs have already started sprouting!)

I usually hoe a dressing of general purpose fertiliser into the rows just before planting, so it's quite easy to push the bulbs in far enough to just about cover them.

[Trillium]

Here's a bit more info:

http://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/onion-shallot/grow-onion-set.php

[eeedowls]

sorry to hi-jack,

what sort of depth is needed?  am thinking of using a plastic bed 6" deep....

ta

[Trillium]

You'd need to plant the sets about 1 to 1-1/2" deep, and allow about another 6-8" for roots to spread.

So your 6" planting unit is far too shallow for healthy growth. Sorry.

[eeedowls]

Thanks - thought as much!

Does the same hold true for shallots?

[mumofstig]

sorry to hi-jack,

what sort of depth is needed?  am thinking of using a plastic bed 6" deep....

ta

is it just one of those beds with plastic sides placed on soil and then filled up? or is it a container with a bottom as well

[eeedowls]

with a bottom - it was bought as a set with a potato bag from a well known supermarket...