[kentishlad]

Hi all,

Any advice on the best time to sow for an early crop next year?
I haven't done an over wintering crop before but figure it would be useful if I could have onions nowish from the plot.

Also I would be interested in any varieties you have tried and would recommend - red and white.

I was thinking about using the land occupied by my main crop spuds when they are lifted, I can't remember exactly when I did this last year (I know I should write things down!)  but I think it was August.
I have just used the space used by the first early spuds for planting Leeks out trying to get the most out of the room I have.

Thanks,

Wayne.

[splodger]

if it's any help - i shall be sowing onion seed in mid august in a seed bed and let them over winter. in the spring i shall transplant the small sets into a prepared onion bed.

i shall be trying "the kelsae" and "bedfordshire champion" and "ailsa craig" from seed.

[starmoonlilly]

I thought I'd started a topic on onions.......but I'll be darned if I can find it!

My question was, I sowed Sturon seeds yesterday, but it said on the packet to sow either sept or march/april. In view of me being a rebel and doing what I wanted instead of what I was told  are they likely to bolt, be ready ealier, or just fail.

OR shall I just wait and see and post later. I really would prefer if someone knew and told me I was a plonker though  :oops:

[mum of 3]

we put in red "electric"onions last august and have just harvested them,they are a very good size and have the most brilliant white innards although the skin is red

[corndolly]

Japanese onion sets can be planted in August .

 I sow onion seeds in a heated greenhouse in January,grow on reducing heat as soon as they have germinated , then harden off and plant out in the growing bed in May ish depending on the weather.

They are developing well ,ground is very wet so I keep looking out for any mildew ,so far so good.

[kentishlad]

The Ailsa Craig I grew from seed this year are doing brilliantly, all the rain has helped I'm sure, I planted them around the first week of feb in seed trays.

Thanks for the replies, I'll look for some of those mentioned in a seed catalogue, Time to be a bit more adventurous and try some new varieties.
If I get some from an overwintering crop around now that would be useful, I have around 150 in the ground for harvesting this year but I shall need more I am sure.

[jennyb]

can onion seed be sown staright into the grond or do they need to be started off in seed trays and transplanted?

i don't have a green house though....

[kentishlad]

can onion seed be sown staright into the grond or do they need to be started off in seed trays and transplanted?

i don't have a green house though....

Hiya,
Yes you can sow direct to ground in Spring, but if you have somewhere warm like inside the house you can germinate them earlier, January - February and steal a march on getting bigger onions sooner.
BTW mine all looked really spindly / straggly as seedlings despite never being deprived of light, I think this is normal for them and leeks, once they got some 'true' leaves they stood up nicely.
HTH