onions

hello,can any one tell me how to grow onions please ,i tried last year but only got very tiny ones,my soil is good would appreciate some advice

 

"Sets"? Blinking 'eck! I gets huge onions from seed, I does!

Less chance of bolting too I reckon. Bit more "faff" involved though. First batch sown a couple of weeks ago and ready for pricing out, I prick them out into the smallest modules - about 1" or maybe only 3/4". That's to get some early ones. Main batch, for using later and for storing, won't be done for a while yet.

Crucial when planting out is to gently unwind all the roots which will have coiled round in the module and get them into the planting hole as vertical as you can, so they are deep and gather water and food for the plant.

That's about it really ... I'll water and feed them when I remember and think they need it ...

 

Are most onion sets heat treated to prevent bolting ? I bought a bag of Sturon from Wilkos for about £1.50 - lots more than I will need - but it never mentioned heat treatment on the label

 

Yes, I expect they are, but I have always had more success with seed-grown.

Having said that, I know plenty of people who say they can't manage with seed-grown and get on better with sets. Skin-flint me prefers seed, bought at 50p a packet in last Autumn's sales (actually, still using the year before's seed packet now I think about it ...)

 

I have had very good results with the sets ,even managed winning in the village show with them last year ..They have kept well and as Harry mentioned bought in Wilkos .Loads in a net . I put the surplus in a raised bed and used them early as needed and stored the main ones .
However I have got some seed in and growing as well this year ,looking to grow a few giants .
I have also got some shallots seed germinated ,not sure what to expect from these ..

Dave

 

Grew this one from seed planted as Big Ben Struck midnight on New Years Eve.

 

Thats a good sized onion Ziggy Or a very small laptop :D

 

Tee Hee.:D

 

Not bad for only a month and 4 days

 

You should see the sets I planted at the same time:D

 

So no advice then, might as well not bothered asking in first place

 

JWK Advised grow sets NOT seeds, and make sure they are never short of water

Mind the door does not catch your treetreetreetree on the way out

Jack McH