Onion Growing 2022

I aim to grow mine outdoors but get an early start using the greenhouse.

I sow my giant kelsae onions in december and then under growlamps for a couple of months before gradually hardening off to plant outdoors in April. My ordinary onions get sown in January and also go under growlamps if there is room. Usually they are relegated to the greenhouse without heat in February or March. Again these get planted outdoors in April depending on the weather.

I know the competition growers keep theirs in a greenhouse all the time, I don't have space nor that bothered about competing.

So I think you should start sowing in January and pot on etc just keeping in your greenhouse. They do need a long growing period to achieve good sized bulbs. Mine get harvested in August when the tops go yellow.

 

Kelsae today, looking a bit better than last year (they all went down with a fungal disease in the wet spring)

 

Kelsae are nearly 15" in diameter. That's the best size I've ever had at this stage of the season (pride comes before a fall)

 

We need something to show the scale @pete they might be pickling sized or giants ?

 

Now you mention it very few of mine bolted, just a few of the winter Japanese type. I'm pulling all mine up this weekend in the hope that a good spell of hot weather will help them store. It's bound to rain.

 

Pulled up my giant kelsae, the best one is 19.5" circumference and 1.464 kg (3lb 3 oz). The size is about what I've managed in the past but strangely they are pound less than in previous years. I think the lack of rain may have something to do with it:

 

I'm going to freeze them as these giant ones don't store so well.