Onion Growing 2023

It must be around 7 years since I gave on on growing sets, apart from Shallots, I have been growing Mammoth seeds for well over 30 years, they are so reliable, even in the heat wave of last summer I only lost one to bolting.

 

I've bought some onions in plugs and they must be growing from seeds. That's all I'm having this year because I'm in the middle of rearranging my garden and my raised bed is going to be moved in a few days.
I'm wondering if the onions will do all right in a deep trough.

 

I sowed White Lisbon spring onions for the first time this year.



Potted them on in clumps



And planted out the other day.


Just hope the slugs don't get them.

 

Onions are quite resilient and those who grow then for show usually grow them in containers, but they are higher maintenance, you can't just leave them to fend for themselves like those in the ground.

 

Mine did exceptionally well in the heatwave last summer and none bolted.
I have a theory that its mixed weather that causes bolting, a dry week followed by a month of rain and then a couple of dry weeks, its enough to make anyone bolt.

 

I've got caterpillars attacking my onion leaves, not sure if I can get away with leaving them and see how things go, or I need to spray.

 

It's not bad atm, I've seen it before but not for a long time.
I found one of the grubs earlier but I squashed it, I'll see if I can find some more.

 

There are only about three plants affected ATM, and I cant find another one of the grubs, it was mostly more like a fat soft maggot.
This is how they enter the leaves, or possibly leave the leaves, I'm not sure which, but they live in the hollow leaf and you can see the droppings that accumulate at the base where it joins the plant.

 

Difficult to say John as neither seem to be quite the thing I'm seeing.
As I say I saw it years ago but not seen it for ages now.

I will keep an eye on them and hope to get better pictures if I see anymore damage.

 

I've got a few onions which are a nice size now, i want to freeze some, what's the best way, they haven't died back yet, dig up top and tail and peel some outer off then chop up then into freezer in a bag

Tis first time growing them

 

Why do you want to freeze them before they have finished growing?