[mushroom]

hi,

If you buy a "sets" of onions, how many are in a "set" ?

Do you also get "sets" of shallots?

[splodger]

sets are just babies - so 1 onion set will give you 1 onion.

shallot sets are slightly different - 1 set will produce several shallots (in a clump)

if you get from a good source - they are worth the outlay - as sowing from seed can be unreliable - if you don't have the right condiions.

i sow onion seed at this time of year  to produce sets - to transplant in the spring - it's always worth a sowing - if they fail, you can still put sets in in the spring  

[WG.]

The word set comes from what you set in the ground as distinct from a number of them making a set.  Confusing eh?

I'll put it in the Glossary.

[mushroom]

cheers for that.

I planted a load of japanese onions in little wooden 'boxes', (each box 4x4x4, filled with soil, a seed in each) (72 boxes), and these ones overwinter if I'm correct. Will order 'sets' next week. Do you recommend any variety in particular?

[mushroom]

The word set comes from what you set in the ground as distinct from a number of them making a set.  Confusing eh?

LOL well yeah, considering I'm of the mathematical persuasion

 

[mushroom]

erm I have another insane onion question, well, two rather:

1. with careful storage, would they last up to a year? I'd like a continuous (or nearly continuous) supply. We use at least one good-sized onion a day. So that's at least 365 onions. maybe 400 inclusing wastage.

2. How many good-sized onions in a typical sack? Perhaps a better question would be how much does the typical sack weigh, then i can calculate the number if i weigh the one in the fridge.

[WG.]

LOL well yeah, considering I'm of the mathematical persuasion

No no ... onions are grown on the Fens, not the Venns !!

[splodger]

some varieties store better than others - so you should be asking which store best  

[mushroom]

No no ... onions are grown on the Fens, not the Venns !!

I really must get my hearing checked out. Had all my coloured pencils ready  :shock:  

[mushroom]

some varieties store better than others - so you should be asking which store best  

OK then, which store best?  

[WG.]

Japanese onions don't store well

Spring-sown seeds & sets should do so : Sturon, Stuttgarter etc

[muntjac]

i grow 400 onion sets of the sturton variety shallots etc and they store well  i can still be using them in june  as i did this year .,kept in a cold shed ,when you have harvested you need to sort them out into short store ,such as those with thick necks ,any others that have marks or bruising then make the best ones your winter supllies etc the long store ., store them hung up so air can move around them .and dont make the mistake my friend did of storing them in the outhouse where his wife had the tumble drier  :shock: he lost 80% through mould / making sure the onions foliage is all properly dry before storage is the key

[mushroom]

cheers folks, thats given me some figures to work with.

[mushroom]

i grow 400 onion sets of the sturton variety shallots etc and they store well  

When did you sow?

[muntjac]

end april planted sets