[rowlandwells]

i thought i mite have a crack at growing some  exhibition onions [mammoth ] but i was quite surprised that i needed to dig a 50cm trench and fill most of it with manure that rather put me of some what   

so I'm going to go with the next best thing and ask our members who grow either exhibition onions or large onions what's the best way to grow a large onion for next years veg show 

[New shoot]

You need the right seeds and I sow early to get the longest possible growing season.  Then it is a question of keeping them watered, weeded and fed.

I have done well with Globo and Ailsa Craig, but there are others.  Some of the best I have seen grown on an allotment were Globo, that were started indoors in January and planted out into a poly-tunnel.  They were superb 

[mumofstig]

I did well in 2019 with Globo, they're lovely  but didn't keep well, I'll grow them again next year but not as many. I need something that stores reliably to grow as well 

[New shoot]

Globo are not the greatest for long storage, but I tend to go through them pretty quick as they are so nice to eat.  They make a great onion marmalade if you have any jars free.

I've grown Bedfordshire Champion before and they keep really well, but they are about average size and if I am honest, not that different to shop bought.  If you have the room, they are worth having a go at for a crop to store 

[8doubles]

If you are growing for size forget about growing in the ground .
Black ( warms fast in the sun) 10 litre pots in the sunniest part of the garden with one strong plant per pot .
Multi purpose compost with added Blood , Fish and Bone .
Canes to keep the leaves upright which you can wrap in polythene at the start to give a bit of weather protection.
An occasional weak tomato feed or similar when it starts to fill out !

Ps it is a pint mug ! 

[snowdrops]

You need the specialist seed. Sometimes in the back of magazines there are places advertising them. I think it is Robinson’s that Medwyn Williams advertisers as seed supplier. I’ve grown Kelsae before & had some rather large specimens, grown in the ground with no special treatment in particular

[jaydig]

My largest onions this year were the Sweet Yellow Spanish variety.  I had one weighing in at 2lbs 7ozs.  Probably a tiddler compared to what the competition growers produce, but big for me.  I didn't do anything special, just dug the ground over well and applied some fish blood and bone once they got going.  I always grow from seed as there's less chance of bolting - however - this year seemed to be an exception with more of the onions bolting than I've ever had before.  I put this down to the weather.  Seed is sown in a cold greenhouse any time after Christmas to the middle of January, and they seem to take forever to germinate, but I just leave them to get on with it.  I usually sow seed sparingly into deep, eight inch pots and don't thin them out at all.  When large enough, later in the year, I just take them to the plot, carefully knock out the pots, separate out the plants and plant them into dibbed holes. Water well, then keep watering and feeding as necessary.

[rowlandwells]

well what a response thank you all for that info i have tried growing Globo before but didn't  get very good results so I'm going to try  Globo again and Robinson's Mammoth and sweet Spanish  with your help

 your replies have made me more determined to have another go so once again many thanks for your assistance you never know i mite even win a prise for the biggest onion 

[8doubles]

As said before Kelsae get big in the ground but do not quite make giant status.
Showmaster (sold as plants)is another worth a try and have got to nearly 4 .5 lb in our local comp with lots of 3lb + entries.

[Kleftiwallah]

I've grown large onions from  Medwyn Williams' seedlings and I was impressed with the results.

Cheers,  Tony.