[durham_lass]

Was up the lottie today and one chap said my onions were coming on well   Tthought they looked a bit sickly and sparse myself. However he did say to give them a feed of phosphate. I also heard that potash is good for them. Which is best, or do they need both? I wondered if this complies with organic gardening? The main reason for growing my own is so that I have chemical free produce (or as free as possible).

[nobby]

dont worry about feeding to mutch if the ground wos prepared well before planting I do like to give them a couple of hand fulls of blod fish & bone but thats all

[peapod]

Ive also a  :?:  about onions
I planted sets a couple of weeks ago in containers, but for some strange reason I hardly put any soil in. I spotted this today so took the onions (already growing and nice roots) out of the container, filled it up with soil and popped them back in
Have I killed em?
 :shock:

[vegmandan]

I wouldn't give them a feed of phosphate or potash at this stage.
Just give them a balanced fertilizer if you didn't add any when you planted them or even a higher nitrogen fertilizer to get the leaves growing.
Potash promotes ripening so you want to stay well clear of that on its own until the onions have started to bulb.

As for replanting your onion sets in more compost they'll be fine.
They are a pretty robust plant.

[peapod]

Thanks vegmandan I apreciate it
 

[Swee'pea]

Can I ask a question on this thread pwetty pweese about onions and shallots?

Mine are starting to sprout in the packs they were purchased in so would I be best planting them in trays until I can actually give them a permanent place on the allotment ( preys for some good weather to dry out the soil so I can dig out weeds n plant soon)

[durham_lass]

Thanks everyone for the advice.

[mashbintater]

I grew onions last yr and didn't feed them, they grew well in compost which I thought was too light, from my bin, hence reason I was considering my cooler shaded area this yr;  and were well watered. They turned out well no extra feed. Whether I'll have same luck this yr remains to be seen   :?

[vegmandan]

Can I ask a question on this thread pwetty pweese about onions and shallots?

Mine are starting to sprout in the packs they were purchased in so would I be best planting them in trays until I can actually give them a permanent place on the allotment ( preys for some good weather to dry out the soil so I can dig out weeds n plant soon)

Absolutely.

It's preferable not to plant sprouting sets at all really but If you are going to use them then definately plant them in in trays first.