2013 Onion Growing Challenge

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by Freddy, Oct 7, 2012.

  1. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    Well I sowed about 20 seeds and they nearly all germinated, I expected to get 50% germination. Anyway I think I would only put 4 onions in each of those large growbags (assuming you are growing a giant onion variety?). I'm no expert on giant onions so wait to see what the others say.

    My normal sized onion sets I grow every year I cram in with about 4" spacing each way between sets. So you can get a lot more of those obviously.
     
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    • Freddy

      Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

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      Hiya FC.

      I think that 4, as John said, would be a sensible target. I think I'm right in saying that Onions like a good depth for the roots, so it might be a good idea to cut off the bottom of some large-ish pots (maybe 12"?), place the pots over the cut-outs in the grow-bag, topping up with compost, and planting into those. Just a thought...:)
       
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      • Dan The Man

        Dan The Man Gardener

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        Got my self some aisla Craig's today so game on lol
         
      • Fat Controller

        Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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        Ah, perhaps I should clarify - I am not referring to ordinary growbags, I am talking about the re-usable type similar to this - I am hoping that they will be deep enough - they coped with beetroot last year.
         
      • Freddy

        Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

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        Hiya F/C


        I've been having second thoughts, 3 might be better;)
         
      • Lolimac

        Lolimac Guest

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        Potted on some of my Mammoths:dbgrtmb: No show from the second sowing yet though.....
         
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        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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          My Kelsae are producing their 3rd leaves now, so they don't mind being potted on.

          I kept 5 'runts' from the potting on (i.e. the worst ones), I've got them indoors on a windowsill. I intend to use them as 'canary' testers, so when the weather improves (March?) I'll transplant them outside before my main plants and watch how they fare.
           
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          • Freddy

            Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

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            :dancy:They'm up! Not many, but they'm up!:dancy:
             
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            • JWK

              JWK Gardener Staff Member

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              Hooray, well done Freddy.
               
            • Dan The Man

              Dan The Man Gardener

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              How are you guys germinating your seeds are they indoors/ outdoors heated etc? Sorry if this already been asked
               
            • Freddy

              Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

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              Hiya Dan.

              I would say that where isn't the issue. What is needed is a steady temperature, around 18c. Good light is also very important. So, if you have a good bright windowsill which is not cold, that should do:blue thumb:
               
            • Lolimac

              Lolimac Guest

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              :yes: Nice one Freddy:dbgrtmb:
               
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              • Phil A

                Phil A Guest

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                [​IMG]
                 
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                • JWK

                  JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                  That's how I got mine to germinate, just in a pot sitting on a windowsill with a poly bag over it to raise the humidity.
                   
                • Vince

                  Vince Not so well known for it.

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                  Now for the hard bit folks! Once you've transplanted them into cells, pots or whatever, WATER them from below, keep the topsoil as dry as possible, not bone dry though, encourage root growth downwards, who said growing monster onions was easy? :snork:
                   
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