Topic: onions after pot's

[oubykh]

Does anyone have any thoughts on if i should plant my winter onions on the ground i used for potatoes this year.  One book i read said it was not a good idea as they may get thick necks  ???

[tim]

Lots of ideas - no knowledge. Although onions & pots are in the same rotational group, I've not knowingly suffered by that follow-on. = Tim

[oubykh]

Ah well, thanks Tim.
i remembered that it was Bob flowerdew in KG nov 2003 where i read it

And it was just after i had prepared the ground for the onions and ordered them that i read that!
But yes i think i will go ahead

[john_miller]

Remember that potatoes will have depleted potassium levels in the soil. Some increased supplementation, above and beyond normal side dressing, with K just prior to bulbing may be needed.

[dave]

Followed my arran pilots with 2 varieties of leek this year and they've done really well; about to start eating the early ones
Planted winter onion sets to follow  desiree last week so we'll see what happens

[Hot_Potato]

Dave - you mention winter onion sets.....are these available now then in the shops or presumably from a seed catalogue...if planted about now, when are they harvested please?

Go away tomorrow for about 12 days so may not see answer for little while....

Maggie

[Mrs Ava]

I received my onions from Marshalls a couple of weeks back, but they can be planted out I think right through until the start of November. They don't store as well as summer planted sets, altho my winter onions from last year didn't get white rot and I still have a dozen or so strung up in my shed and they are doing just fine!  ;D

Forgot to say...can't remember when I harvested them, but I guess it was early summer time.....to start with I pulled them as I needed them, then when I wanted the growing room I pulled the rest up and left them to dry at home in the garden.

[Hot_Potato]

Wow - thanks for quick reply Emma - will get some while I'm away in Chelmsford, probably Wilkinsons will have some - we've not got one here in Reading  :'(

Maggie

[sarahr]

Did you find any in wilko's? My local one only has flower bulbs.

[Jesse]

I thought onion sets were planted in spring and seeds sown in August? The seed catalogue I've got from my allotment are selling sets but with a delivery for early January, will this be too late?  ???

[Mrs Ava]

You can get overwintering (Japanese) onions now for planting from now until the end of October.  The sets you see delivered in January are for planting in early spring - your maincrop onions I guess you would call them.  They store for longer, but mine all succumbed to white rot, so I think I will be giving them a miss next year.  :'(

[Hot_Potato]

No, I didn't see any either in Chelmsford's Wilko's - like your branch Sarah, they only had flowering bulbs (well when I was in there anyway) - got back from Chelmsford today and was in there a day or two ago (for the 2nd or 3rd time and still not any  :(). However, I did see them in Chelmsford market so maybe your local market gardening stalls are good places to look also. H.P.