Onion Growing 2022

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by JWK, Dec 28, 2021.

  1. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    Potted on my Kelsae plants, some into peat free and some into peat based. They are going outside on sunny days and indoors under growlamps when it's dull:
    20220328_143848.jpg


    The non-giant varieties are in seed trays in a frost free greenhouse (on the right of the photo), I will plant these outside within the next week once these frosts are out the way:

    20220328_171831.jpg
     
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    • Hanglow

      Hanglow Super Gardener

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      Yours are a fair bit more advanced than mine. I planted out all my onions and shallots yesterday though, under fleece. They've been in a cold greenhouse since they germinated so should be fine
       
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      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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        Planted my giant Kelsae yesterday:
        20220502_111702.jpg
         
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        • Michael Hewett

          Michael Hewett Total Gardener

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          They're coming along well @JWK Do you put them in shows ?
          My onions are just starting to germinate in a raised bed outside. I don't want big ones since I'm the only one here now.
          I have spring onions germinating at last too :smile: They took their time and I had given up on them.
           
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          • JWK

            JWK Gardener Staff Member

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            No I just grow them for a bit of fun, I think they look quite impressive in a prominent position in my veg patch. I only grow a few as they don't store well.

            The rest of my onions are at the allotment, all from seed in trays including some spring onions too. Nothing has germinated from direct sowing for me this year, I think it's been too dry and I haven't been able to work a decent seed bed with the lumpy soil.
             
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            • CanadianLori

              CanadianLori Total Gardener

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              I didn't buy any Kelsae Onion seeds this year as I had blown my budget on other seeds but today, I couldn't resist buying a 4"x4"x6"tall pot that was chocker block with seedlings. At first I thought it was chives until I read the label, they were so stuffed in there.

              Anyone know how to separate and not kill seedlings so tightly packed please?
               
            • JWK

              JWK Gardener Staff Member

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              They are pretty tough seedlings and don't mind losing a few roots. It sounds like you have a lot more than you need. I would aim to get the largest to start with sacrificing the smaller surrounding ones.
               
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              • CanadianLori

                CanadianLori Total Gardener

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                Thank you @JWK and guess what? I discovered a second tag on the back of the pot saying it is a different onion. :doh:I guess it will be a big wait and see!
                 
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                • ricky101

                  ricky101 Total Gardener

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                  Well made a bit of a mistake with our Sets this year as we planted them in a new raised bed, but the soil is a bit too light and though growing well they are leaning over as the top growth gets bigger.
                  Not sure if they will form decent bulbs as they are now or if we shoud try and support them with canes, though a bit of a long job ?

                  One regular problem with onion sets is that as they mature around early August so leave a bit hole in the garden when harvested, but never too sure what to put in there afterwards, any suggestions other than quick salad plants ?
                   
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                  • JWK

                    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                    Are the bulbs sticking out the soil, if it was earlier in the season I would push them deeper, doing so now might make things worse. Maybe the soil wasn't compacted. Anyway I think all you can do is try and support them now, I have canes and strings around my giant onions to stop the leaves flopping down, that takes me a while to do and I only have 9 plants. Maybe you could tie canes horizontally to smaller upright ones, along the rows to speed things up.

                    Brassicas are the recommended crop to follow onions, things that take a long time to mature and crop in the spring. I follow on with Spring Greens and Kale, also spring harvesting cabbages and caulis. I think you need to sort out your soil before planting brassicas, they need to be in firm well trodden soil as they hate rocking about.
                     
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                    • ricky101

                      ricky101 Total Gardener

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                      Hi,

                      The sets were planted as usual in late March with just their tips showing.

                      The pic shows how they look now, and with the soil scrapped back which looks like its not forming any bulb ?

                      Cannot for sure remember the variety, think they are Sturon or another popular type from the shops.

                      Think they are a lost cause ...... ?

                      Thanks, some mini Cauliflowers sound just the job for a follow on crop .:smile:

                      IMG_20220527_171126595_HDR.jpg IMG_20220527_171208879_HDR.jpg
                       
                    • pete

                      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                      I'd leave them alone.
                      If you just want onions for cooking they will be ok.
                      Ground looks a bit wet ATM.

                      Mine get fox cubs playing on them and get bashed down but I still usually get some worthwhile onions.

                      Onions grow leaves up until the longest day, after that the bulbs start to form.
                      That was how I read it years ago.
                       
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                      • JWK

                        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                        They look better than mine down the allotment. Mine have suffered from hardly any rain. Yours look like they have a touch too much nitrogen hence the heavy top growth. I think they will be ok as pete says. They don't bulb up till the days shorten anyway.
                         
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                        • pete

                          pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                          I agree John, maybe too much nitrogen, but big leaves often mean big bulbs in August.
                          Maybe a dressing of potash in late July.
                           
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                          • ricky101

                            ricky101 Total Gardener

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                            Thanks all, they had just been watered as its also been so dry up here too.
                            Had given them some fetilizer over the last few months but did not think we had over done it in any way, but will be cautious in future.

                            The new raised bed had a few sacks of peaty and sandy top soil from a local supplier, think it should have been mixed more with the existing garden soil and left to settle a bit longer.
                             
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