[seneca]

hello folks,
just joined this forum after finally getting my plot 2 weeks ago. Been clearing it out and digging over part of it. Firstly, I must mention that the allotments of which I have become a member seem pretty inactive at the moment. I've only come across 3 people so far and one of them was the chairman! so advice and opinions are thin on the ground. Anyway, I've been looking at various books and have found that I can actually plant something at this time of the year (bit surprised, but I'm new to this game.) Apparently, I can plant onions and garlic.

here's my questions-
- what's the best way to plant these- in a row at ground level or should i make a raised bed?
- do they need to be covered to stop pests? (one book mentions onion fly, so I assume netting will be needed. If so, do I need to make a cloche with the netting over it?
- onion sets come in packs of 50 - do I need to put all 50 in the ground or can I save some for next year?
- do I plant them in a long single row, or can I plant them in a square?
- anyone have any links or pictures of how they have done it in the past

thanks for your help

[Yorkie]

Welcome seneca, I'll try to answer some of your questions 

here's my questions-
- what's the best way to plant these- in a row at ground level or should i make a raised bed?

no specific need to make a raised bed unless you have pretty bad drainage

- do they need to be covered to stop pests? (one book mentions onion fly, so I assume netting will be needed. If so, do I need to make a cloche with the netting over it?


Don't think netting will make a huge difference to this pest, I've never seen netting over onions etc

- onion sets come in packs of 50 - do I need to put all 50 in the ground or can I save some for next year?

Depends if you want 50 onions next year or not!  Don't think they will keep though ...

- do I plant them in a long single row, or can I plant them in a square?

Any which way you want, I'd suggest in a square but it really doesn't make a huge difference to how they grow.  just make sure you can get a hoe between them to weed when necessary without disturbing them

- anyone have any links or pictures of how they have done it in the past

Nope, sorry

thanks for your help

[sunshineband]

Welcome to the forums, seneca. I think Yorkie has answered your questions quite fully  Ijust wanted to add that there are some very helpful articles linked to the Home Page (button at  the top left hand side) which might make interesting reading and help you plan what else you might like to do.

(You can plant broad beans now too  )

What a shame your plots are so deserted 

[zazen999]

I would like to add that if you are in the West Midlands; then I'd fleece those onions.

If you haven't room for all 50 at the spacings suggested; you can plant them closer and as they grow - harvest alternate ones for eating smaller. The more space you give them the bigger they grow.

I've got a pic of my last year's overwintered onions - mainly because the one with the white ribbon made 11 babies which are now being grown this year as they should be gentically identical to the huge mummy onion. But, you can see how much space each has inbetween.

[Sweet Pea 2]

Hi

What is the benefit of planting onions now rather than in the Spring?
I would like a larger crop of onions than this year, but will probably only get one large bag of onion sets, so i don't want to lose the lot.

Are garden centres/Wilko selling onion sets a the moment, or is it more specialist places only?

[zazen999]

Overwintering onions go in now and are ready earlier but don't store as long as sets that are planted in the spring. It just means that you can have onions earlier.

[Sweet Pea 2]

OK thanks.  I think I may stick to the spring planting ones, but I might see if they have a small bag of overwintering onion sets when I go and get my Garlic.

[sunshineband]

I put some in now for an early crop  and the bulk in during Spring for some to keep over (hung in the shed strung up)

[kel28]

I think everyone has summed it up but my allotment is at the very end of the field  so I dont get many people walking past my allotment so what I would say is if your allotment is not very busy I would personally net them as mine seem to get pulled out by birds, i'd imagine but not sure, the 1st year I planted 50 ended up with 10 left in the ground, but I actually only net them until they have rooted and grown a bit bigger than a golf ball then I take it off this year I netted them I had 100 onions. The busier your allotment, the more people that walk past daily and scare the birds off I find, even my brussels at the very bottom of our allotment (which is huge something near 200 allotments) no-one nets them and people say to me dont bother, but the birds eat the tops, so while its quiet up there net everything!

[Leedsniner]

I can only reiterate what Kel has said - having had my sets pulled out by inquisitive blackbirds/thrushes. Net your onions while they are small.

[DD.]

Or simply plant them a bit deeper so the tops don't show.

[Lottiegob]

We had the bird problem, but have learned to plant these sets firstly into small pots or modules to get a good root formation, usually til the tops show green about 1 + half inches and they should then be ready to plant in the plot - there is sufficient root formed to prevent the birds pulling them out.