Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: dmg on January 06, 2014, 21:12

Title: onions and shallot planting
Post by: dmg on January 06, 2014, 21:12
I picked up some shallots and red onions today. I know I am early for planting direct but can I pot them up into modules into an unheated gh just now?


Thanks
Dmg
Title: Re: onions and shallot planting
Post by: devonbarmygardener on January 06, 2014, 22:08
I usually plant onion sets and I would be putting them into cut down toilet roll modules of compost in a cold greenhouse by the beginning of Feb - weekend of 8th-9th last year in fact.

Might be a bit early right now. I normally get a good crop each year with sets I've pre-sprouted like this.
If I stick them straight in the ground they tend to fail ???
Title: Re: onions and shallot planting
Post by: Wiltshire Worms on January 07, 2014, 23:33
I'm going to need a lot of loo rolls..poundland selling 300 onion sets for a pound.I bought a bag of red baron Anne a bag of sturtinnger..I will be giving a few away
Title: Re: onions and shallot planting
Post by: devonbarmygardener on January 07, 2014, 23:34
Ask friends and family to save them for you ;)
A normal size kitchen roll makes at least 4 onion set modules - the supersized kitchen rolls make 6 - just ;)
Title: Re: onions and shallot planting
Post by: Yana on January 08, 2014, 08:25
I started onion sets in module trays last year and the roots got all twisted together. I like the idea of the toilet rolls/kitchen rolls as will be easier to plant out but what about the edge of the said toilet/kitchen roll sticking above ground? How far do you bury the onion set in the beginning so that this won't happen?
Title: Re: onions and shallot planting
Post by: sowitgrowit on January 08, 2014, 08:32
I'm going to need a lot of loo rolls..poundland selling 300 onion sets for a pound.I bought a bag of red baron Anne a bag of sturtinnger..I will be giving a few away

 :ohmy:  :ohmy:  :ohmy: Surely not?!
Title: Re: onions and shallot planting
Post by: gavinjconway on January 08, 2014, 08:55
I use a 48 module tray for a few early sets - it's far easier than loo rolls. They grow so easily there's no need other than to get a few earlies going before the plot is ready for planting out.
Title: Re: onions and shallot planting
Post by: devonbarmygardener on January 08, 2014, 10:05
I started onion sets in module trays last year and the roots got all twisted together. I like the idea of the toilet rolls/kitchen rolls as will be easier to plant out but what about the edge of the said toilet/kitchen roll sticking above ground? How far do you bury the onion set in the beginning so that this won't happen?
The toilet rolls start deteriorating pretty quickly so I just rip the sides when I plant the onion out and bury the loo roll with it.
I bury the sets about 1/2 way. Then on planting out I bury up to the green sprouts.  :)
Title: Re: onions and shallot planting
Post by: Goosegirl on January 08, 2014, 11:34
I use a 48 module tray for a few early sets - it's far easier than loo rolls. They grow so easily there's no need other than to get a few earlies going before the plot is ready for planting out.
I use module trays too because the ground is usually not ready for an early planting out, either because it is too wet, frozen or I haven't got round to weeding it. Also, you know which sets are viable and can whizz the ones that aren't so you aren't left with spaces in your rows.
Title: Re: onions and shallot planting
Post by: Yana on January 08, 2014, 14:39
I started onion sets in module trays last year and the roots got all twisted together. I like the idea of the toilet rolls/kitchen rolls as will be easier to plant out but what about the edge of the said toilet/kitchen roll sticking above ground? How far do you bury the onion set in the beginning so that this won't happen?
The toilet rolls start deteriorating pretty quickly so I just rip the sides when I plant the onion out and bury the loo roll with it.
I bury the sets about 1/2 way. Then on planting out I bury up to the green sprouts.  :)
That makes sense, thanks
Title: Re: onions and shallot planting
Post by: Mr Dog on January 08, 2014, 15:56
I'm going to need a lot of loo rolls..poundland selling 300 onion sets for a pound.I bought a bag of red baron Anne a bag of sturtinnger..I will be giving a few away

 :ohmy:  :ohmy:  :ohmy: Surely not?!

Think it's 300g of 'bulbs'.... Not sure what that equates to in number.
Title: Re: onions and shallot planting
Post by: DD. on January 08, 2014, 16:53
Delving in to the depths of Mr Google, I find a quote from DT Browns saying there's about 80 in a 250g bog, so you' be looking at 100ish, which sounds a bit more reasonable.
Title: Re: onions and shallot planting
Post by: Yorkie on January 08, 2014, 19:25
Delving in to the depths of Mr Google, I find a quote from DT Browns saying there's about 80 in a 250g bog, so you' be looking at 100ish, which sounds a bit more reasonable.

 :ohmy:  ;)  :tongue2:  :nowink:
Title: Re: onions and shallot planting
Post by: Wiltshire Worms on January 08, 2014, 21:09
ok. thanks..i will check..im not home at the moment so I will check tomorrow.




Title: Re: onions and shallot planting
Post by: gavinjconway on January 08, 2014, 21:26
I'm going to need a lot of loo rolls..poundland selling 300 onion sets for a pound.I bought a bag of red baron Anne a bag of sturtinnger..I will be giving a few away

 :ohmy:  :ohmy:  :ohmy: Surely not?!

Think it's 300g of 'bulbs'.... Not sure what that equates to in number.

Mr D... I bought 3 packs today that you speak of from the pound shop and the 300g packs hold 100, 102, 101.. 
Title: Re: onions and shallot planting
Post by: Wiltshire Worms on January 11, 2014, 17:10
I stand corrected.you were right. The gm letters were tiny,  and my eyes weren't what they were...