[Stratts]

Hi all we've decided to try and grow some normal and red onions this year but I've never done it before.

I had my seeds arrive today but don't know the best way to start?

Could I sow direct into the soil as I don't have a greenhouse?

How much room would I need for a half decent crop or if it's easier to answer how much room do onions take up?  And how many would I get from a row of 15ft, which is the width of my plot?

Thanks

[gobs]

Is it seeds or sets?

If the former, you sow in a cold frame/gh/cold room now, yesterday like. If sets, you can linger around till March and put outdoors.

2/4 a foot like that's about 30/60 I make.

[mparveen]

I've not tried onions myself but I looked at my RHS Grow Your Own vegetable book by Carol Klein and found out that u can sow 3 or 4 inches apart if for cooking, 6 inches if u want them larger.

I will be buying my onion sets next week as nearly prepared my ground for planting

[gobs]

I've not tried onions myself but I looked at my RHS Grow Your Own vegetable book by Carol Klein and found out that u can sow 3 or 4 inches apart if for cooking, 6 inches if u want them larger.

I will be buying my onion sets next week as nearly prepared my ground for planting

You only need to work out now, how many inches in a foot.

[Yorkie]

Whilst I agree that smaller spacing will result in smaller onions, the difficulty with only spacing them 3-4" apart is that it is hard to get a hoe between them for weeding ... either you have to hand weed or you run the risk of damaging them.  Dilemma!

[Stratts]

They are seeds mate I've made the decision from the off to try and use seeds only and not buy plugs/sets for anything I grow.

Mainly to keep the cost down and chuck meself in at the deep end!! 

[Stratts]

And also where do the alliums go in the 4 year rotation plan as that's what I have based my plot on this year in the planning stage? 

I've guessed with the other roots like carrot, parsnip, beetroot, etc?

Ta

[gobs]

A completely different plant, but it can go there if works out so for you.

[trampyjoe]

I've put my alliums with my carrots and parsnips as I heard they stop carrot fly (as does garlic) .. how true this is i do not know.

[DD.]

There's only one way to stop carrot fly.

[Ice]

There's only one way to stop carrot fly.

And it 'aint companion planting.

[DD.]

To put it plainly, if you don't use a physical barrier, such as fine mesh or fleece, you could end up bitterly disappointed.

[Stratts]

Hi again guys I've got some onions germinated from seed in 2 propogators indoors but what now?

I've built meself a kind of greenhouse rack with perpsex sides and a white backing, could they sit on there outside even if it gets cold again?

Here's a pic of the rack before the mods,

Cheers

[Yorkie]

Yes, I should think so - they don't need particular levels of heat as far as I'm aware.

Make sure you harden them off before putting them outside permanently (i.e. put them outside during the day and bring back indoors at night) for a week or so.

I would also advise that you tie or fasten your shelves (nice work!) to something because it will not be very stable with the height to footprint ratio that it has.

[Salmo]

The farmers down on the dark peat fen around Yaxley will have all planted their onions by now. They all sow direct.