Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: garddwr on September 09, 2008, 22:16

Title: Best way to grow onions
Post by: garddwr on September 09, 2008, 22:16

Hi

Could anyone tell me the best way to start off and grow onions ? sets seed ? when ? what ?
any help would be great

thanks

Title: Best way to grow onions
Post by: Robin Redbreast on September 09, 2008, 22:32

i am new to this myself but hope this helps! buy seed and plant singularly in pots and grow on till they are 3 inches long and plant out at about 6 inches apart and furrows 10 inches apart. if buying sets put them in well fertile soil with plenty of organic matter at the same spacings. but i am no expert! :lol:

Title: Best way to grow onions
Post by: Sadgit on September 10, 2008, 12:18

sets every time.. you can get over winter varieties right now and then normal onion sets to be planted in April

Last year I planted the following on 6th October
60 AUTUMN ONION SETS SENSHYU YELLOW
60 AUTUMN ONION SETS SILVERMOON

and on 30th March this year I planted
Golden Gourmet Shallots
Stuttgater
Red Bermen (sp?)
Allium Centurian

Title: Best way to grow onions
Post by: Bombers on September 10, 2008, 12:29

I too have got 50 Senshu Yellows going in next month,(that is if the pond has subsided) :lol:
This year I sowed seeds (Ailsa Craig's) directly. I was a bit late sowing (End of April) but still harvested 3 dozen 1/2lb-2lb 'nice size' onions from an 8' x 4' bed. :)

Title: Best way to grow onions
Post by: Stevens706 on September 10, 2008, 12:43

Planted my Sturron onion sets 22 March and have had a great crop far better than last year

Title: Best way to grow onions
Post by: SG6 on September 10, 2008, 19:13

Tried onions for the past few years. Found that seed was simply unsuccessful. Tried a few varieties and nothing. Could have been me as I have read they need a minimum temperature to germinate.

Tried sets and more success. Started with "normal" ones, bought in Feb/Mar and planted Mar/Apr. These have given better results. Although the red onions have not been great. They didn't rot or die, just most sat there doing not a lot. Everything I have read says plant 4ins apart, seems a bit close to me but what do I know :alien:

Just bought over wintering onions for planting Sept/Oct. Added chicken poo pellets as ground may need something. They pong :clown:

I would suggest onion sets - easier at the end of the day. If you can get hold of some over wintering ones give them a try. Plant sort of now although people say avoid it being too wet. :drunken: Little chance.

Give a spring planting a go for sure, but from experience try white onions as more success.