Author Topic: onions again!!!! (Read 4024 times)

gunnerbee · « **on:** February 24, 2006, 10:21:23 »

Brought some sets the other day, could i start them off in trays then move them on at a later date? do i keep them in a greenhouse? Thanks.

Curryandchips · « **Reply #1 on:** February 24, 2006, 10:50:19 »

Yes you could, I understand your eagerness but there is no rush. Planting them out anytime from mid March to the beginning of April will be fine.

Mothy · « **Reply #2 on:** February 24, 2006, 19:29:05 »

Thanks Gunnerbee, I was going to ask the same question!!

I have 700 onion sets I want to get in!!

I haven't put my shallots in yet cos it's been so cold, when do they have to be in by?

gunnerbee · « **Reply #3 on:** February 24, 2006, 19:57:18 »

Not so much of being eager, just had a knee operation and wondered if i could start them in trays because i cant get out in the garden at the moment!!

Robert_Brenchley · « **Reply #4 on:** February 24, 2006, 20:07:58 »

You can plant them when the weather warms up a bit, no need to worry. Mine are going to sit in the shed till it's a bit less arctic.

tim · « **Reply #5 on:** February 24, 2006, 20:15:25 »

And Mothy - with that number, unless you want exhibition bulbs, plant them close together. Much more useful in the kitchen.

djbrenton · « **Reply #6 on:** February 24, 2006, 22:40:16 »

One of our 'experts' swears that transplanted sets grow bigger than ones planted straight into the ground.

Mothy · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2006, 17:36:56 »

Tim,
Many thanks, exhibition sized onions are certainly not the intention. What spacing do you recommend? I hope to be able to store them in either nets or string them up, does size affect the storage properties of onions?

I lost some larger ones from last years crop that went rotten, most of the smaller ones have been great.

tim · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2006, 18:02:19 »

Liking them small, I put them in about 3" apart.

Don't know, but I can believe that the smaller ones keep better.

jonny211 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 27, 2006, 10:41:53 »

Hiya,

Has anyone grown onions from seed before... I have some 'Bedfordshire Champion' seeds but am wondering whether to sow directly into the ground or start in biodegradeable modules and plop these into the ground at a later date. Also if I start them from seed now will they mature and swell before the frosts come?

All ideas are welcome!

Jon

tin can · « **Reply #10 on:** February 27, 2006, 10:46:39 »

I like to put my shallots on compost on a seed tray so they start rooting prior to planting out as I find the birds have more trouble tugging them out of the soil.

Zippy Seale · « **Reply #11 on:** February 27, 2006, 12:59:21 »

I have red barron sown 2 weeks ago. I sowed in a seed tray and then into modules when they are 2 inches tall.
seem to be alright.
have to be in the warm to germinate though.

sandersj89 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 27, 2006, 13:48:35 »

Quote from: jonny211 on February 27, 2006, 10:41:53

Hiya,

Has anyone grown onions from seed before... I have some 'Bedfordshire Champion' seeds but am wondering whether to sow directly into the ground or start in biodegradeable modules and plop these into the ground at a later date. Also if I start them from seed now will they mature and swell before the frosts come?

All ideas are welcome!

Jon

It is normal to sow onion seed early in the year, I started min of in January and they germinated at about 21 days. This is in a warm greenhouse in trays. They will get potted on soon and then into a coldframe prior to planting out.

If you sow them now they will be fine but just a little smaller than normal but some say the smaller onions store better than the large.

HTH

Jerry

MikeB · « **Reply #13 on:** February 27, 2006, 15:51:37 »

Quote from: jonny211 on February 27, 2006, 10:41:53

Hiya,

Has anyone grown onions from seed before... I have some 'Bedfordshire Champion' seeds but am wondering whether to sow directly into the ground or start in biodegradeable modules and plop these into the ground at a later date. Also if I start them from seed now will they mature and swell before the frosts come?

All ideas are welcome!

Jon

Sowed my bedfordshire champ on the 13-02-2006 and will pot them on into a ' box ' in about two weeks and then plant out in April after hardening off.

Champs as of now, also the potting on crate and the onion dibber for when I plant out.

supersprout · « **Reply #14 on:** February 27, 2006, 16:22:35 »

Thanks for the pictures MikeB, they help a lot - especially the patent Onion Dibber, did you make it yourself? Love these patent devices lots, would love instructions if you have them ;D

Jimmy · « **Reply #15 on:** February 27, 2006, 16:43:51 »

What a good idea! Do you have multiple plates with different size dowels for different plantings?

MikeB · « **Reply #16 on:** February 27, 2006, 16:49:18 »

Hi SS,

It's a 12" x 12" piece of plywood, divided in a 4 by 4 grid i.e. 3" in all directions. A handful of doweling plugs, drill 16 holes, hammer in dowels. I use it for transplanting onions and for planting carrot seed. For the carrot seed it's three seeds per hole, a bit tiresome, but saves thinning out and the risk of carrot fly later in the season. If more than 1 seed germinates I snip off the weakest seed(s) with a pair of nail scissors. I also have other ' dibbers ' on a 4" and 6" spacing.

supersprout · « **Reply #17 on:** February 27, 2006, 16:52:02 »

Thank you for the instructions mike :D, will deliver them pronto to my son's friend who runs a school woodworking class. My those little fingers will be busy. This gadget will be the envy of the allotments, better get a new lock for the shed. Oh, better get a shed first :-[ ;D

scotch-mist · « **Reply #18 on:** February 27, 2006, 22:19:52 »

;) Great idea :D

Mothy · « **Reply #19 on:** March 01, 2006, 21:47:30 »

What a terrific dibber Mike.....I'm gonna have to make one!! ;D

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Author Topic: onions again!!!! (Read 4024 times)