Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Stephen Byrne on March 05, 2019, 14:39

Title: Onion set varieties
Post by: Stephen Byrne on March 05, 2019, 14:39

Hi everyone

New to the forum . Need your advise . I have been growing onions for a number of years now
using sets of Sturon , Stuttgarter , Centurion and Red Baron and always had very good harvests.

I was going to try  Snowball sets this year but have been advised that not only are these poor for storing
but also not to expect a good crop.

Thanks , Stephen

Title: Re: Onion set varieties
Post by: Christine on March 05, 2019, 15:17

Have heard exactly the same from our allotment holders Stephen. Mind we are in the north east and on clay. Could have something to do with it.

Title: Re: Onion set varieties
Post by: Goosegirl on March 06, 2019, 14:13

We tend to grow Sturon because they do well in our raised bed on rather heavy soil. Last year we had a really good and tasty crop (sets bought from a local nursery) and we're still using the last of them! The weather might have something to do with it but am going to get some more sets next week.

Title: Re: Onion set varieties
Post by: JimB on March 13, 2019, 21:32

.

Hi,

I have found Stuttgarter does not store very compared to Sturom etc

Only grew Snowball once, a very poor crop most rotted in the ground with bottom end rot I think its called, the few that survived were very sweet when cooked, but I would not try it again in case it brings disease into the soil and spoils the normal varieties.

Cheers

Title: Re: Onion set varieties
Post by: Aidy on March 13, 2019, 22:21

A slightly different answer to consider...
I was converted to seed rather than sets and have had by far better crops. I grow Bedfordshire Champion, belting onions and store well, rarely have any bolted and very easy to grow and you could still sow now for a harvest. One thing I have experimented with this year was to chit the seed, the germinated within a few days and are coming on reyt good.
Just a thought

Title: Re: Onion set varieties
Post by: Hampshire Hog on March 14, 2019, 10:01

I normally grow sturon find that red onion sets are more problematic.
I haven’t tried growing from seed yet I have seen a few reports on here over the years that they are less prone to bolt
Cheers HH

Title: Re: Onion set varieties
Post by: rowlandwells on March 14, 2019, 18:57

now you've got me worried Stephen as I've put a few snowball onions in to try  :( although I have sowed several other onion [seed] varieties inc sweet Spanish


we traditionally grow turbo sets every year but I'm also trying as sets centurion sturon and piruska red

Title: Re: Onion set varieties
Post by: Wiltshire Worms on March 14, 2019, 20:54

I grow santero from sets, as they are disease resistant, still got about 30 of last years left and they have kept brilliantly

Title: Re: Onion set varieties
Post by: Stephen Byrne on March 19, 2019, 10:21

Thanks for replies and advise , much appreciated . I've planted Red baron and decided to have a go with Snowball .  I'll keep you posted how  the're coming along .