[gillybee]

Hi all, has anyone ever grown mammoth onions from Robertsons and sons? I have just planted mine out today. I started them just how they told me to and every seed grew. All 100 of them. I did not think that they would all grow.

[corndolly]

I'm growing some Mammoth , sowed the seeds back in late Jan., planted out in April, but had trouble with Rabbits nibbling the growing tips of onions. Have covered with mesh tunnel and they are recovering.

Need to remove cover soon to weed them then I'll post a piccie.

I think to get the very large onions you need to sow earlier than it says on the packet, but they do need heat to germinate then , difficult if you dont have a greenhouse.

[buckie]

I have grown Mammoth Onions over many years.  When they are large enough I pot them on into 3/4" pots and continue them on a hot box and even sometimes repot them ito 5" pots in the meantime providing stakes with ties to keep them upright.  I then plant them out in June,  when all chance of frost is over, at about 12" apart in rows 15/18" in very well manured/composted beds.  I used to show onions but showing has become so keen that 90% of top onion showers now have all their onions in poly tunnels which gives them a longer growing and ripening season.  This year I did not take any pips or sow seeds but bought some well grown plants which arrived last week and I have them in 3" pots on the hot box which I will plant out in couple of weeks.

[Steve.B]

Revive this thread!

Just got my 'Mammoth' seeds today and was wondering do they require light to germinate? I ask because I have a green house but not heated so I will not get the 55f required, so thought of doing it indoors by a window.
Any ideas welcome.

Thanks.

[Babstreefern]

I've got my mammoth onions as well as mammoth leeks.  I grew them last year, both white and red, with success.  I will be planting mine between Christmas and New in trays, in my conservatory.  I spray water over them every day.  In about March, I will move them to the greenhouse (unheated), and a month after that, in a cold frame, and then in the ground.  When they are big enough, and frost has gone, I'll plant them outside.

[Iain@JBA]

I started off my onions and leeks from Medwyn Williams in my office and utility room.
They are doing very nicely at the moment.

[Jay Dubya]

Hi, i started mine off in early Jan. in a propogator under growlights big onions need a long season and the lights give a longer day and give them a good start. I allways grew Kelsae.

[vegmandan]

Around about now is the right time to sow big 'uns.
Some of the record breakers are sown as early as November though.
You don't want to keep 'em too warm in low light conditions otherwise you'll just get really leggy plants.
Ideally around 50f under lights is the best bet.
 

[pushrod]

Will be starting mine off Christmas morning in a heated propagator - but the heat will be turned off after 12 days/or when they first appear - and will transplant them when still at the loop stage. Then kept cool and bright, but not direct sunshine.

[Cheshire Phill]

Christmas morning??!!!!!

Now I know some of the folks on here are crackers!!!

I'll be on the Bucks Fizz meself...

HoHoHo...

Phill 

[Babstreefern]

As will I

[mumofstig]

But some people have been known to use them as an excuse to dodge the Christmas washing up 

[peapod]

Must say, If I had a heated greenhouse I could disappear into for an hour on Christmas morning, Id be doing the same thing

[Steve.B]

So what's it to be?

Cold green house 35/40f
Windowsill 60/70f

or get them to geminate indoors then put them in a cold green house? Can't give them artificial light so will have to go outside.

[Motivator]

I would go for window sill . South facing if pos .