Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Grow Your Own => The Show Bench => Topic started by: seedman on November 30, 2011, 08:02
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Hi all has any one started there onions off yet just read an article in the gardening news about starting onions off in Oct/Nov it was talking about show onions i know they are normally started at Christmas time just wondering if anyone has tried Oct/Nov Thanks
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I think its only worth starting so early if you are aiming for a show in late June or July. You would also have to provide them with enough heat and light to keep them steadily growing through the winter. That would mean proper growlights for at least 12 hours per day untill about March.
My local show isnt untill September, so I will be starting at the traditional time at Christmas.
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Thanks Yorky, seems to much bother lights and heat yes are show is not till September, it was something i seen in the paper garden news to much reading :)
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If you are competing at National level, then you will need to start now and use grow lights and heating
If you are not competing at this level, then the expense of electric will not justify the competition at the lower levels and you should be able to get an onion up to 3lb which should be able to compete, without using heating and lights and sown later
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I've never grown onion from seed before but would like to try and hopefully grow 3lb samples.
What variety do you recommend? I'm assuming you just start them off in trays in a heated propagator and then progress them through individual pots into the open ground?
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If you are going to go for an exhibition type onion, you have to go for a Kelsae Onion
I grow all onions from seed now as you get a stronger onion
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There's a series of articles on growing onions for show on the site by John Trim you might like to check out.
Growing Large Onions Guide (http://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable-show/large-onions-show.php)
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I also recommend it
Also the long carrot one is pretty good also :blink:
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I don't have any lights to use.
If I sow the seeds early in January, in a propagator, will the little plants survive alright in a greenhouse that stays at about 10 deg C?
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It will be difficult without heat but it depends on the weather
What about a paraffin or gas bottle heater?
At least you know the price before hand rather than get an expensive surprising electric bill
Or, how about keeping them in the house in a spare room or conservatory?
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It will be difficult without heat but it depends on the weather
What about a paraffin or gas bottle heater?
At least you know the price before hand rather than get an expensive surprising electric bill
Or, how about keeping them in the house in a spare room or conservatory?
Not really enough light in the house I'm sorry to say, even with a tinfoil reflector :(
I was hoping that 10 deg would be OK, but maybe I'll have to think again. Not keen on paraffin -- had some bad experiences :tongue2:
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I think you have to accept that growing show vegetables often involves spending money on equipment and energy. It's really a different ball game to table growing.
By the time you get up to NVS branch and national championship level it's like the Olympics. Almost a full time job in itself - which is why, I suspect the retired feature strongly.
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I was just wanting some big onions this year coming, so I will wait until a bit later to plant the seeds perhaps :unsure:
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As John says, often there is money involved in growing for showing
Onions are probably the most costly Vegetable to grow due to the heat and lighting
When I started, I was going down the onion route until I had it pointed out to me that unless I could afford the set up and running costs to compete with the best, then it wasn't worth doing it half hearted, as it would still be expensive but would not get the rewards
This is why I went towards Carrots. Any set up for specialised vegetables will cost you to start but there is plenty of vegetables which don't need a lot of cost to set set up, such as Runner Beans, Cabage, Cauliflowers, Shallots, Cucumbers, Tomatoes and the list goes on
I grow my roots, celery, peas at home (peas as I have moth on my allotment)
And, cabbage, cauli, potatoes, cucumbers, shallots on my allotment
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If you arent competing in a show and just want some big onions for the kitchen then 10 deg should be okay. As long as you keep them steadily growing so that you have good sized plants to put out in April they should get to about 3lbs. I grew them for years like that.
In more recent times I have invested in a grow light, and as far as I am concerned it is money well spent. To put it in perspective, as a birthday treat a neighbour took his young son and a friend to watch Leeds United. He said that he didnt get much change from £100. Thats just for 90 minuets of football. I doubt if my greenhouse power bills come to that all winter.
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What sort of light did you buy Yorky?
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I bought two of the single shade holders with 125w bulbs from here.
http://www.jungleseeds.co.uk/HardwareOrders/contents/en-uk/d34.html?kw=grow light systems&fl=7940&gclid=CKrH_sbMopYCFQ6IMAodLxcLJg
Last year I rigged up a growing chamber lined with tin foil and the lights hanging inside. Apart from the onions and leeks it also preduced the best results I have ever had with Begonias from seed.
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now thats wet my appitite to grow a 3lb onion .i have a spare bedroom but with the radiator turned off it still gets to about 15/20c is this to warm at the start for them would be thinking of plantinting seeds end dec thanks :)
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I bought two of the single shade holders with 125w bulbs from here.
http://www.jungleseeds.co.uk/HardwareOrders/contents/en-uk/d34.html?kw=grow light systems&fl=7940&gclid=CKrH_sbMopYCFQ6IMAodLxcLJg
Last year I rigged up a growing chamber lined with tin foil and the lights hanging inside. Apart from the onions and leeks it also preduced the best results I have ever had with Begonias from seed.
Now you have me rely thinking did not no the lights where so cheap thanks Yorky :)
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Thanks Yorky :D
Now I just need to clear a space on the long cupboard in the spare bedroom. There is a powerpoint available, too.........
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There is a powerpoint available, too.........
Oh lovely, some nice clear instructions. ;) :tongue2:
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This is my Heath Robinson contraption all ready for the big switch on in early Jan. Last year I just used tin foil, but this year I have upgraded to the stuff that you put behind radiators. It is backed with polystyrine so should keep the heat in better.
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn181/loiner18/Show%202012/IMG_0113.jpg)
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn181/loiner18/Show%202012/IMG_0114.jpg)
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That is a great set up Yorky
Does it cost much to run?
What light is it you are using?
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That is a great set up Yorky
Does it cost much to run?
What light is it you are using?
There is a link to the light higher up the page.
I have never worked out how much it costs, as far as I am concerned it is all part of the enjoyment I get from my hobby. :) Talking to friends and neighbours my power bills seem to be about average so I was very happy with it last winter.
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now thats wet my appitite to grow a 3lb onion .i have a spare bedroom but with the radiator turned off it still gets to about 15/20c is this to warm at the start for them would be thinking of plantinting seeds end dec thanks :)
Good set up yorky as above ? is 15/20 to warm at the start thanks
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I started my onions in a barely warm greenhouse in January. (The Kelsae). Pricked out into individual modules when large enough to handle, hardend off, planted out and left to it apart from watering and a few chicken manure pellets.
Had 80 onions ranging from 2 1/2 lb to just over 3lb without the need for all this messing about! :D
If you have a look at the photo on this thread, you can see some of the not quite so big ones on the table at the back.
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=84064.msg936447#msg936447
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Here's a couple of clearer piccies:
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c182/G4IAR/P1010381.jpg)
(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c182/G4IAR/P1010389-1.jpg)
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Mr Sunny has drawn the line at 'using the spae bedroon as an extension to the greenhouse' as he put it, ::) so have been trying to find a way of justifying it anyway
so....... I am glad to hear that suitably large onions can be grown 'normally'
I've only ever used sets before but very year try to do something different ---- onions from seed is on my list again!!!! :mellow: :mellow: :mellow:
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Mr Sunny has drawn the line at 'using the spae bedroon as an extension to the greenhouse' as he put it, ::) so have been trying to find a way of justifying it anyway
so....... I am glad to hear that suitably large onions can be grown 'normally'
I've only ever used sets before but very year try to do something different ---- onions from seed is on my list again!!!! :mellow: :mellow: :mellow:
Cut of his bedroom rights(lol) he will soon change his mind :lol: :lol:
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Mr Sunny has drawn the line at 'using the spae bedroon as an extension to the greenhouse' as he put it, ::) so have been trying to find a way of justifying it anyway
so....... I am glad to hear that suitably large onions can be grown 'normally'
I've only ever used sets before but very year try to do something different ---- onions from seed is on my list again!!!! :mellow: :mellow: :mellow:
He would think I had gone completely barmy :wacko:
Cut of his bedroom rights(lol) he will soon change his mind :lol: :lol:
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now thats wet my appitite to grow a 3lb onion .i have a spare bedroom but with the radiator turned off it still gets to about 15/20c is this to warm at the start for them would be thinking of plantinting seeds end dec thanks :)
Good set up yorky as above ? is 15/20 to warm at the start thanks
Sorry I did'nt get back to you sooner on this. 15/20 is ideal for germination,after that they would be better under a grow light with the temp nearer to 15 than 20. If you havent got a grow light then just give them as much light as you can. You might not break any world records but you should still get some good onions.
Heres a picture of mine as of this morning.
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn181/loiner18/Garden/IMG_0138.jpg)
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They are looking very good, just coming up to the crook stage
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Mine have just begun to pop through. Not sure what will happen this year. Last year I'm sure I didn't sow them until Feb or later,my heaviest was 2lb 15 1/2 oz & I got 2nd prize for 3 as grown on13th Aug in our local show.
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now thats wet my appitite to grow a 3lb onion .i have a spare bedroom but with the radiator turned off it still gets to about 15/20c is this to warm at the start for them would be thinking of plantinting seeds end dec thanks :)
Good set up yorky as above ? is 15/20 to warm at the start thanks
Sorry I did'nt get back to you sooner on this. 15/20 is ideal for germination,after that they would be better under a grow light with the temp nearer to 15 than 20. If you havent got a grow light then just give them as much light as you can. You might not break any world records but you should still get some good onions.
Heres a picture of mine as of this morning.
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn181/loiner18/Garden/IMG_0138.jpg)
Thanks yorky will give a go :)