[Judd]

Spring onions must be easy as mine are superb and I'm totally rubbish!
I planted out the seeds(White Lisbon) and though they took a while to come through and seemed to grow at the same speed as the weeds,once I'd weeded them(very carefully) they just seemed to take off and now they are heading towards the size of a golf ball.

[hubballi]

Mine are still slightly thinner than a pencil.   I will feed with diluted liquid chicken manure to see if that brings them on.

[sunshineband]

Mine are still slightly thinner than a pencil.   I will feed with diluted liquid chicken manure to see if that brings them on.

That's an OK size for eating them tbh

[Wellpotty1]

My spring onions have only just got going this week; think I sowed the seeds in April; are only the size of string/thick wool but delighted as I had been glowing to my hubby how well the onion bed does in general. Hopefully the recent sunshine will see them on.   

[sunshineband]

My spring onions have only just got going this week; think I sowed the seeds in April; are only the size of string/thick wool but delighted as I had been glowing to my hubby how well the onion bed does in general. Hopefully the recent sunshine will see them on.   

There's time for them, fear not 

[ilan]

The plants we are missing the increase in light levels that we should have this time of the year dull wet or overcast days  will all slow growth and slow growth means that any slug or insect damage will be magnified hopfully the increased sunshine will cause a growth spurt 

[hubballi]

We have had nice weather for a week or so but they are the same, if not smaller.

[ilan]

little will happen in a week but I would be suprised if they have shrunk 

[Aunt Sally]

How can the possibly be smaller Hubballi ?

Unless your slugs have been eating them  

[hubballi]

Slugs have not touched them.

[Aunt Sally]

Then they can't be any smaller

[ilan]

I think you are growing in pots or containers using commercial composts which may be the root of all your troubles Plants need the many and varied consituents of garden soil it contains fungi and trace elements that is missing in grow bags or composts growing directly into the earth also gives a more stable enviroment ie its slower to dry out and temperatures at the roots are more stable . with composts the nutrients are washed out with repeated waterings . If you must grow in containers use the biggest you can get or make and use a mix of earth and composts. next google the type of plant you want to grow they all want a bit of different care once you realise what a plants needs are then the challange is to provide them 

[hubballi]

Good points. I will bear this in mind thanks.

[Wavertree Red]

I agree with ilan as I made a similar mistake during my first year.  I think raw compost is just too rich for some plants hence if I'm growing in a container or raised bed I'll mix it up with top soil, manure and feed.

My spring onions are a bit smaller than usual this year, must be the weather. Still taste good though.  They look easy to just pull out but the roots are strong and often, because I'm too lazy to go the shed for the hand spade, I end up with half a bulb sticking out the ground.  Annoying.

[Yorkie]

I agree with ilan as I made a similar mistake during my first year. I think raw compost is just too rich for some plants hence if I'm growing in a container or raised bed I'll mix it up with top soil, manure and feed.

This isn't logical, WR.  By adding manure and feed, you are increasing the richness of the mixture; if you think the compost is already too rich then you're contributing to the problem.  Do you mean that you don't think the raw compost doesn't have enough structure to it?

Multi-purpose compost is designed to be fine for most annual plants.  But it becomes exhausted of nutrients after 6 weeks and therefore does require topping up.  The addition of soil will definitely aid moisture retention and help the plant to thrive - but is not a cheap option.