Topic: Sowing Onions, Why Bother

[tuinman]

I've sowed onion seed for a few years now with rubbish results every time,

Year 1; they grew but were only ping-pong ball size

Year 2; they begun ok then rotted, the couple that were left bolted

This year; they haven't even begun to grow, all except one. here is a photo



Luckily I have planted sets, they have grown pretty big and I'm very happy with them. Heres a photo



So I won't be going back to seed I don't think :)

[Deb P]

I've had a go at sowing onions this year, and banana shallots and have had superb results so far!

Bunton's Showstopper onions are HUGE and still growing, the banana shallots are also massive, I'm just starting to eat the smaller ones which are still bigger than any I've ever bought so I am planning to do the same again next year! ;D

[STHLMgreen]

My spring onions never showed their heads.

So I agree, onion seeds are NOT the way forward.

[Fork]

tuinman,

it looks to me like your onions have got Downey Mildew and if you grow onions in the same area or close by you will continue to get it.

You should not plant them in that area for at least 5 years.

[cornykev]

I tried seeds, rubbish  :( , I will also stick to sets Tuinman.  ;D ;D ;D

[cambourne7]

HI

After potatoes, onions are my next most used crops as we use lots of them.

I have had sucess growing from set and seed and plan on the following for next growing year.

Shallot - Prisma F1 Hybrid
Onion - Owa
Onion - Red Florence
Onion - Senshyu Yellow
Onion - Utah Jumbo
Onion - Ailsa Craig
Onion - Tropea Rossa Tonda
Onion - Brown Pickeling SY 300
Onion - Large 9s'
Onion - Rossa Tonda Tropea

I do like the idea of just sowing the seed and leaving to see what happens :-)

Cambourne7

[manicscousers]

we always do long red florence, planted in pots until a decent size and senshyu for overwinter, also did mixed globe this year, at the moment, they're doing better than the set sown ones  :o ;D

[Mrs Ava]

I always grow sets because we have rot on the allotment and I hope that as the sets are already a size, they will be able to get a bit bigger before the rot sets in.  Had a good crop of Japanese hunions this year.  I have also sown seeds, but they are still tiny, I don't mind as the seeds were free and I have planted them all along my carrot bed to try and put off the dreaded fly.  I will use them as salad onions as I need them.

[manicscousers]

I forgot, we also always grow ishikura onions, grow like a leek, quite quickly so no need to wait for bulbing up and easy to chop up, I've even used some for spring onions this year, easiest onions from seed ever  ;D

[davyw1]

I forgot, we also always grow ishikura onions, grow like a leek, quite quickly so no need to wait for bulbing up and easy to chop up, I've even used some for spring onions this year, easiest onions from seed ever  ;D

Manics, Isikura don,t bulb. Next year try planting the seed in a 4" shallow trench and back fill as the onions grow to get more white.

[Jeannine]

Hi Manics, I have a packet of these but have not yet grown them, can you tell me what size you leave them till after using a few for spring onions, I was a bit nervous that I wouldn't realise when they were ready but you obviously have it worked out.I would appreciate any pointers.Also what kind of a yeild do you get considering their odd way of growing which interests me.

Thank you Jeannine XX

[manicscousers]

hiya, jeannine, we start them off like all our onions, in a pot, as you know, we have lots of slugs and snails, so we transplant them , 3 or 4 to a hole for spring onions, when they're about 4" high, into a dibbed hole, like a leek..pull them when they're the size we want for springy's, the rest we grow to leek size and use as onions
interesting type...quite mild when small  :)
we get quite big, thick leek like onions if we leave them, don't know about yield as we use the green bits as well, in soups and stews  ;D

[Jeannine]

Thank you Manics, I hope my seeds will be Ok for next year,they sound a good all round sensible veggie so I am going to have a go. I presume they won't store with all that green. Would I be right in saying they look like a leek and taste like an onion? This is the picture I had in my head from the description on the packet with no picture I might add!! xx Jeannine

[manicscousers]

yes, they are just as you say, no, they don't store but we only grow about 2 dozen and use the bigger ones for cooking  :)

[Jeannine]

Thank you XX Jeannine

PS How are you feeling now XX

[manicscousers]

just going for a salt bath, getting there, slowly but surely, take care, m xx

[theothermarg]

i love growing onions from seed. they differ from year to year but you have a much wider choice and they do not bolt as easiley as sets i think you may have been unlucky with yours because my overwintering ones are big
marg

[davyw1]

The two rows of Spring Onion are Isikura, been growing them for a few years and as yet not found a better

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r111/stumpinsci/Picture052.jpg

[ajb]

I start mine off in modules because I can't get a good seed sowing surface on the open ground.  I start them off very early and plant them out about the time you're supposed to be sewing them! Sets are easier, but don't feel like gardening to me! Most successful were Long Red Florence.

Moving house so got nuffing this year :(

[Tora]

I agree Ishikura is the best spring onion. I love the flavour as it's something I always ate as I grew up in Japan. It's sweet but pungent at the same time. I grew it for the first time last year and was really pleased how they performed. I let some of them flower this spring and bumble bees loved them. :) Also I saved some seeds... does anybody know if it cross pollinates with other spring onions?