Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: AndyRVTR on December 05, 2021, 19:15

Title: Kelsae Onion Seeds
Post by: AndyRVTR on December 05, 2021, 19:15
Hi guys, does anyone know where I can buy some Kelsae onion seeds, it seems a lot of places are sold out and I'm struggling to find any. If anyone has any spare they could send me I'd be happy to cover costs etc. Thanks.
Title: Re: Kelsae Onion Seeds
Post by: Mr Dog on December 05, 2021, 22:11
They seem to be as rare as hen's teeth from the major suppliers since bad weather wiped out the seed crop a few years ago. Seeds are advertised on the well known auction site. (I've seen £4.99 for 100) and DTBrown have plants although they're pricey: £9.95 for 20!
Title: Re: Kelsae Onion Seeds
Post by: AndyRVTR on December 06, 2021, 17:02
Seeds are advertised on the well known auction site. (I've seen £4.99 for 100) and DTBrown have plants although they're pricey: £9.95 for 20!
Yeah, I saw the ones on ebay, but I'm always a bit sceptical when buying from a person rather than a reputable company, I could be buying anything!
Title: Re: Kelsae Onion Seeds
Post by: Mr Dog on December 06, 2021, 17:19
Seeds are advertised on the well known auction site. (I've seen £4.99 for 100) and DTBrown have plants although they're pricey: £9.95 for 20!
Yeah, I saw the ones on ebay, but I'm always a bit sceptical when buying from a person rather than a reputable company, I could be buying anything!

Know what you mean.. Last time I saw Kelsae seeds was at the 2019 Harrogate Autumn Flower Show. I can't remember which small, specialist seed company were selling them but I do remember thinking that they were expensive (although all their seeds were!)
Title: Re: Kelsae Onion Seeds
Post by: mumofstig on December 06, 2021, 19:13
I think Medwyn's were the last people to stock them, but even he only has enough for himself nowadays :(
The variety Exhibition seems to be the replacement for Kelsae. They're what Medwyn himself grows now.

Explanation here
 https://www.mandycanudigit.com/2016/10/13/new-showbench-onion-to-rival-the-kelsae/?doing_wp_cron=1638817635.4375538825988769531250
Suttons have stock https://www.suttons.co.uk/vegetable-seeds/onion-seeds/onion-seeds-exhibition_mh-33716?feed=shopping&source=SGWEBPPC&source=SGWEBPPC&gclid=CjwKCAiAhreNBhAYEiwAFGGKPBzsECGZInLjprOGkLnaXci4p6zd4HauFh_0MqkST6T3Al31Gl0d0hoClRcQAvD_BwE
Title: Re: Kelsae Onion Seeds
Post by: AndyRVTR on December 07, 2021, 10:11
I can't believe how short in supply they are, fingers crossed I'll get some and keep some  seeds for future crops!
Title: Re: Kelsae Onion Seeds
Post by: rowlandwells on December 07, 2021, 16:56
I tend to agree with Mum why not try a replacement for Kelsae there's plenty of seed out there I think are equally as good what about Exhibition £0.99 120 seeds or sweet Spanish 550 seeds £1.99 from [DT Brown]  or Globo £2.45 250 seeds Mammoth Improved £2.75 100 seeds [kings seeds]

we grow Globo [Moles]for spring sowings also going to try some other varieties for spring sowings next season Santero [Kings] and Hytech organic seed [Moles] also looking at growing Bedfordshire Champion and Exhibition and sweet Spanish and Ambition shallots [DT Brown] my other half will no doubt want me to grow some sets we usually grow Turbo sets I think we mite have enough onions to last us through till we harvest the following year  :nowink:

Title: Re: Kelsae Onion Seeds
Post by: AndyRVTR on December 07, 2021, 17:59
I tend to agree with Mum why not try a replacement for Kelsae there's plenty of seed out there I think are equally as good what about Exhibition £0.99 120 seeds.
Funnily enough I've literally just ordered some exhibition seeds, so if I can't get hold of any Kelsae at least I have another option. My oldest brother used to grow exhibition with great success, so fingers crossed I can do the same.
Title: Re: Kelsae Onion Seeds
Post by: jambop on December 07, 2021, 18:12
I tend to agree with Mum why not try a replacement for Kelsae there's plenty of seed out there I think are equally as good what about Exhibition £0.99 120 seeds or sweet Spanish 550 seeds £1.99 from [DT Brown]  or Globo £2.45 250 seeds Mammoth Improved £2.75 100 seeds [kings seeds]

we grow Globo [Moles]for spring sowings also going to try some other varieties for spring sowings next season Santero [Kings] and Hytech organic seed [Moles] also looking at growing Bedfordshire Champion and Exhibition and sweet Spanish and Ambition shallots [DT Brown] my other half will no doubt want me to grow some sets we usually grow Turbo sets I think we mite have enough onions to last us through till we harvest the following year  :nowink:

Grew Mammoth on year and had amazing onions not one under 8cm diameter and nothing special put into the ground, was a lovely sunny year that year though but even so who needs bigger unless you are growing to enter the biggest onion competition  :lol:
Title: Re: Kelsae Onion Seeds
Post by: steven c on December 08, 2021, 08:37
we have had good success for several years with ailsa craig great size and they dont seem to bolt
Premier seeds £1 for about 1000 seeds grew some over one pound in weight. good luck
Title: Re: Kelsae Onion Seeds
Post by: AndyRVTR on December 08, 2021, 10:13
we have had good success for several years with ailsa craig great size and they dont seem to bolt
Premier seeds £1 for about 1000 seeds grew some over one pound in weight. good luck
Thanks Steven C, Ailsa Craig is always in my seed box and I've always had good success with them and I'll be growing them again this year, I just want to grow some 'BIG' onions for a change, especially Kelsae  :nowink:
Title: Re: Kelsae Onion Seeds
Post by: New shoot on December 08, 2021, 11:16
I just want to grow some 'BIG' onions for a change, especially Kelsae  :nowink:

These were my Globo this year.  They are not the best keepers but we love eating them up fast anyway  :lol:
Title: Re: Kelsae Onion Seeds
Post by: AndyRVTR on December 09, 2021, 16:27
I just want to grow some 'BIG' onions for a change, especially Kelsae  :nowink:

These were my Globo this year.  They are not the best keepers but we love eating them up fast anyway  :lol:

Great looking onions New Shoot.. I did try those a few years back but I was quite disappointed with the shelf life so I haven't grown them since, I prefer onions that keep for a good while. I've managed to source some Kelsae seeds so with those, the Exhibition and Ailsa Craig I should manage a large onion or three!
Title: Re: Kelsae Onion Seeds
Post by: Alank on December 11, 2021, 17:55
Andy I see you are in the north east so am I. If you want big onions you could try john soulsby (Google for his Web site) or try beverages nursery in Ebchester both supply onions as plants, not sure about seeds though.
I've grown the ones from beverages a few times and entered them for show and had good results.
John soulsby's place is near the Team Valley.  :)
Title: Re: Kelsae Onion Seeds
Post by: Mr Dog on December 11, 2021, 19:44
DT Browns have limited stock 120 seed for £4.29 + P&P
https://www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk/Vegetable-Seeds-1/Onion-Shallot-Seed_2/Kelsae-Onion-Seed.html (https://www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk/Vegetable-Seeds-1/Onion-Shallot-Seed_2/Kelsae-Onion-Seed.html)
Title: Re: Kelsae Onion Seeds
Post by: Snowboar on December 12, 2021, 19:36
I have some ailsea not kelsei seed meant to be bigger
Title: Re: Kelsae Onion Seeds
Post by: AndyRVTR on December 13, 2021, 15:37
I have some ailsea not kelsei seed meant to be bigger
Ailsa Craig?
Title: Re: Kelsae Onion Seeds
Post by: Snowboar on December 22, 2021, 09:45
Not ailsa Craig these are ailsea breed from kelsea seed
Title: Re: Kelsae Onion Seeds
Post by: AndyRVTR on January 08, 2022, 09:37
Kelsae seeds finally arrived and sown into the heated propagator this morning, lost nearly a month waiting for them to arrive but better late than never!
Title: Re: Kelsae Onion Seeds
Post by: rowlandwells on January 08, 2022, 10:02
I take my hat of to you new shoot [globo] they look perfect [how do you do it Stanley] if ours turn out like yours  this year I will be pleased wishful thinking

what's the attraction with growing kelsea rather than other varieties?
Title: Re: Kelsae Onion Seeds
Post by: AndyRVTR on January 09, 2022, 13:24
what's the attraction with growing kelsea rather than other varieties?

Basically MASSIVE Onions! World record currently stands at just over 16b 8lb!
Title: Re: Kelsae Onion Seeds
Post by: mumofstig on January 09, 2022, 13:52
Yup, grown for the bragging rights  :lol:
However they don't store very well, which is a real shame  :( and they aren't for you if you prefer stronger tasting onions, but I do like raw, mild onions on a salad in the summer  :)
Title: Re: Kelsae Onion Seeds
Post by: AndyRVTR on January 09, 2022, 17:30
Yup, grown for the bragging rights  :lol:
However they don't store very well, which is a real shame  :( and they aren't for you if you prefer stronger tasting onions, but I do like raw, mild onions on a salad in the summer  :)
We used to grow them as big as possible and my brothers would 'show' them, but you're right, they don't store well, so we always chopped and froze them, last for months that way  :lol: