protecting onion sets

skywalker · « **on:** February 21, 2007, 19:19 »

Today I have planted around 160 onion sets (Sturon and some reds) in a bed approx 12 x 5 feet. Ouch my back

Does anybody have any good ideas for protecting them against pests and which pests should I be cautious of?

shaun · « **Reply #1 on:** February 21, 2007, 19:23 »

just watch out for birds pulling them out (they think they are worms sticking out of the soil i think) and pop them back in,thats it from me

purplebat · « **Reply #2 on:** February 21, 2007, 19:23 »

ditto from me

slowcompost · « **Reply #3 on:** February 21, 2007, 19:27 »

the main problem i have is with birds pulling then out of the ground.
You have to keep an eye on them and push them back in till they get rooted.

leeky · « **Reply #4 on:** February 21, 2007, 19:27 »

Would some netting to cover them until they get a good hold be a good idea?

shaun · « **Reply #5 on:** February 21, 2007, 19:31 »

i leave the string line there for a couple of weeks just lift it up a tadge of the soil that seams to stop them

milkman · « **Reply #6 on:** February 21, 2007, 19:33 »

I've got mine covered with netting on water pipe hoops to stop birds and poo'dy cats until they're growing away, other than that I wouldn't worry about pests.

WG. · « **Reply #7 on:** February 21, 2007, 19:35 »

Quote from: "milkman"

poo'dy cats

very clever

muntjac · « **Reply #8 on:** February 21, 2007, 21:53 »

line of aluminum foil strips tied to ya line will sort em out

skywalker · « **Reply #9 on:** February 21, 2007, 22:05 »

Thanks for that. Will heed the good advice and chase off those pesky birds

Eristic · « **Reply #10 on:** February 22, 2007, 00:22 »

I've never had much of a problem with birds and onions. While birds will probably pull the odd one out I believe that most of the dislodged bulbs simply pushed themselves out when the roots start to grow. The bird knows it is not a worm. They are not that stupid but maybe they want something beside it or underneath.

Onion sets never seem to go missing and generally it is only a few here and there that require rehousing, and then only for the couple of weeks it takes for them to root in.

It's a five minute job once a week to check them over.

Trillium · « **Reply #11 on:** February 22, 2007, 03:58 »

then we must all be planting pushy onions, Erisitic, because mine somehow pop out too. I'm sure it's birds either looking for tasty greens or squirrels just being a nuisance; either way I've pushed the same lot back in several times in one season. This year I think I'll put a tangle of netting out until the roots set. Let the little beasties try and get through that!

milkman · « **Reply #12 on:** February 22, 2007, 08:46 »

I had a couple of recently planted shallots pushed out even with netting over the top - I reckon its the worms turning!

WG. · « **Reply #13 on:** February 22, 2007, 09:48 »

Quote from: "Trillium / milkman"

pushy onions / shallots

Actions of rain, frost, roots and even birds will make some of them pop out. I tend to plant mine a little deeper than the books suggest and I can't say that I've noticed any ill effects.

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protecting onion sets

WG.

Trillium

WG.