Onion sets

Picked up some red onion sets today, when would be the best time to get them in the soil ? And are there any special requirements for them ?

 

The sooner the better from now really. I'm not an onion expert having only grown them once so far, but I got a good crop. Just make sure the soil they are in is loose and free draining (ie well dug over).

 

Hiya Dan.

I'd wait another week or so as there's a cold spell on the way, but then plant them up. Just be aware that apparently they (reds) are more prone to bolting, so don't plant if the weather is too cold as this might encourage bolting. No special requirements, just try to get them in a reasonably sunny spot, and I would probably rake in some Growmore now. No doubt, others will add more

 

I don't plant onion setts out till the end of April at the earliest.

I know some sow earlier but I find that they just sit there doing virtually nothing then when the soil warms up they set off, so as I see it you risk the possibility of rotting if we get a wet cold spring.

I have been known to set them up in cells a few weeks earlier and place them in a cold frame and this gets a good root system going prior to planting them outdoors.

But in the end the choice is yours!

Edit; I also think that planting out early can create a stop start situation which I think is the cause of onions bolting,whereas the way I grow them reduces the chances of checks in growth!

 

Personally, I'm not keen on sets. Yes, they are easy, you just stick 'em in and they grow, but I reckon onions grown from seed will out-perform sets easily, with a bit of care and time.

 

Thanks for the replies, I have some oinion seeds once the peppers have sprouted ill get some in the propogator, tee gee what do you mean by setting them up in cells and cold frames ?

 

As above , I'll plant my sets in containers around the Easter weekend at the end of the month. Hopefully it will be a bit warmer then . Just plant them so the pointy end is showing one hands width apart . I cover mine with netting for a couple of weeks to stop the birds pinching them.
http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-plant-onions

I have heard this before Freddie , do they not grow sets from seeds
I like sets because they are so so easy ! Planted Struron last year, which was a very nice onion. I am trying Centurion this year hope it is as good.

 

So even in the colder weather your bulbs or any other seedlings will still germinate in a green house ? I thought if it's cold outside the cold will conduct through the green house, I've bought a little grow house myself and a propagator which has pepper seeds germinating in if I was to place the propagator in the grow house would they benefit from it ? Same with the onion sets should I start them off in small pots in the grow house ?

 

Placing setts in cell trays gets them off to an early start.

As they are quite hardy they can go in the cold frame where they are protected from the worst of the weather.

As I mentioned I have not planted my setts yet but these are some Shallots & Potato onions (I did earlier) to show you the principle!

With onion setts I would not use as large a cell tray as these, I would use a 24 cell tray insert as in the third picture.

I hope this answers your question.

In cold frame;



Potato Onions brought on in 3" pots;



24 cell tray insert;

 

Yes, grown from seed, then 'stopped' in some way, probably from digging up?
I wasn't knocking them (sets), as I said, they are easy which has to be a good thing. Indeed, I grew some last year as I was a bit short on plants. It's the size and bolting problem that puts me off.

 

Mice seem to have nibbled the shoots completely off all of my autumn planted sets. It can only be mice because after I first noticed signs of damage I covered them with mesh and the leaves continued to be bitten clean off.

This has never happened before, so until I sort those meeces out I'm going to be planting both in open ground and in cellular trays in mouse-proof locations.

 

again thank you all very much for the info you have provided me, valuble infomation which will be taken in, thanks again.