2013 Onion Growing Challenge

Hiya John.

My propagator (with the lighting over) is pretty much stuffed. I'm planning on making quite a lot of sowings next weekend, so it's going to be a bit of a struggle. How about moving the lighting away from the propagator and siting over the staging with the onions under? Do you think it's too cold at night still, or would the onions be ok?
No light meter.

 

Is your greenhouse frost free??

If it is then what you are suggesting should be OK

 

Hiya Tee Gee.

It's unheated at the moment, but I do have a heater that I normally use for when the tomatoes get planted into the border, in May. I've just had a thought, I currently have my Canna's in the propagator, which obviously benefit from having the lighting over, so moving the lighting might be a non-starter. I won't be doing this again next year

 

Mine are stuffed. Look like a bad day in "Silent Running"

Got better looking Chives

 

Up to press mine are looking OK...i think....time will tell....never thought i'd see myself fretting over an onion

 

Agreed this is why I hold back a lot of my stuff and only grow things that can be dealt with, with the facilities I have!

OK this does not seem very adventurous, dull even,but it works for me!

Because I have reasonable facilities e.g. Heat & light I get away with it to a large extent.

Plus with some stuff,e.g. Brassicas I can delay sowing and force them a bit with heat which gives me the heated well lit space for long growing time subjects that these would otherwise take up.

So space planning is essential which I am afraid I go a bit OTT with

So Freddy don't give up next year,now that you have the experience plan things a bit differently next year!

I say all this because I have been there,done that,and got the tee shirt

I for one have been very interested and entertained by your efforts over the last few week, so don't give up!?....Tg

 

Hiya folks.

Tee Gee, it's worth bearing in mind that this is the first time I've tried growing BIG onions in earnest. I would normally sow them early-mid March, and still get perfectly acceptable results. If/when I do this again, I'll buy the plants mentioned earlier, a much more practical solution, I think I always try to look ahead, but for some reason I assumed that they would be out from under the lighting and holding their own without heating, by now.
In any event, they will have to be moved out in a couple of weeks to make room for all the other stuff I need to get on with, so fingers crossed for a major upturn in the weather.
Btw John, I've managed to get hold of a light meter

Cheers...Freddy

 

Are they a total write-off?

 

I've had them out on the roof in the sun for the past couple o days, but they don't look happy

 

Oh dear, that's a pity. Btw, you still got that plot at West Bay?

 

Nah, couldn't get down there much last year & Sis didn't have time to look after it.

 

Fair doos! at least you have learned lots so that can't be a bad thing!

This is what I found that when you go for something special much of your normal techniques often go out the window, as you have found!

You will still be involved with heating and lighting, basically you are just doing away with the sowing & germinating!

I think I mentioned in another thread that I look to my spring bulbs for guidance when to sow and I am finding that this year is about 2-3 weeks behind the last couple of years.

I have got quite a bit of stuff that is just sitting there waiting for a bit of decent 'daylight' so the can develop!

I don't think their is a year goes by but we find that something to do with the weather is out of kilter, and we have to adjust our plans :(

But that's gardening I guess!

 

It's not that hard growing big onions, I think some of you are trying a bit TOO hard!

Okay, if you want a world beater by all means invest in lighting, heating and such like, but NOT necessary for a fun thread like this.

Potted on my Kelsaes at the weekend, now unheated and no artificial light, they've doubled in size within 3 days, onions can tolerate low temperatures, maybe even thrive on it because I've never had one go to seed yet!

Just keep them frost free, they'll be OK

 

Hiya Vince

I think you're assuming that I got the lighting specifically for the onions. Not so, indeed I'd been considering buying some for some time, mainly for getting my tomatoes off to a better start. Even starting them off mid-late March they always tend to be a bit spindly. I guess this competition just brought that decision forward by a few months