[JayG]

I don't think this year is turning out to be a very good model for what might or might not work in future years (not many of my crops have performed as I would usually expect, although I have to say it's far from being all bad news.) 

[simonwatson]

For me it's sets all the way and the reason for that is how much time they take. Push them in at 6 inch or 4 inch centres and leave them to it. bit of weeding, but not much and jobs a goodun.

[1st time veg grower]

 I have grown both sets and seed this year. Don't know my experience applies to other people but here the sets are done and dusted (the ones I planted in modules early are a really good size, those I didn't aren't particularly - a couple bolted), but my onions from seed are still growing - they aren't yet as big as the largest ones from set but they are a good size (none have bolted so far). So for me I will grow both again as it has extended the season for me - I don't have to worry about being too stingy with the ones I grew from sets as in a couple of weeks I'll have a load more.

Having said that, none of the onions have grown as large as the overwintering ones I grew from sets - they were quite surprising, none bolted as I grow at home and could keep them watered during the dry spell. Still have several chopped up in the freezer for winter use. I thought they would come to nothing as they kept getting pushed up out of the ground - I must have replanted them 3 or 4 times over the course of the winter.

[moam1]

I plant my seeds on Christmas day in a tall deep plastic box.  I keep them indoors till the second week of March, then they go in my Polly tunnel untill the first week of April.  Then into the ground they go lost a few but 95% did very well.