Japanese Onion sets

[David R]

I went shopping for some today; i went to a large garden centre, then a small garden centre and then wilko's but none had them. Apparently there is a shortage this year?

Has anyone else found problems getting hold of sets or am I too early or too late? Never grown these before so i dont have a "routine" for them

[David R]

[theothermarg]

saw them on sale a few weeks ago!!! I always grow seeds
marg

[Pigletwillie]

To be honest our local hardware come garden shop had them by the tray load so I had no need to search for them. I have not heard of a shortage though.

[OllieC]

I got mail order from Dobies & they were the best quality I've ever seen. I noticed Wisley had run out of Feng Shui last w/e (& noticed they were poor quality a few weeks ago).

[cornykev]

Have you any pet shops near you, ours had sacks full of them.  :P ;D ;D ;D

[David R]

blimey - looks like i'm late. thanks folks

[Lauren S]

I just called my local pet/garden shop (tiny place) and he told me they don't get their onion sets for another month. They come in by the sack full. That's good because I can squeeze and feel for the best ones  ::)

Lauren  ;D

[barbaramaureen]

Hi I am fairly new to the whole onion thing but I always thought that you planted set early spring and seeds now.  Am I wrong.  Only my thinking is that if you have a really wet winter the sets will rot.  Perhaps I should do both!!!!!

Can anyone confirm.

Thanks Barbara

[Sparkly]

I also ordered mine from dobies. I haven't grown onions from sets before, but they look healthy.

[Lauren S]

I grew onions from sets earlier in the season and they were great. Lovely flavour  :)

[cornykev]

Lauren a month seems a long time to wait, and Babs wintering or Japanese onions go in now and get there selves a head start before it really gets cold then they just go dormant, then start growing again when the weather warms up. Mine went in late september and most of them are between 1/2 to 1 and a 1/2 inches high.    ;D ;D ;D

[cornykev]

Just checked my gardeners calender and it says : Oct   plant onion sets
Nov and Dec   plant if you haven't already done so.  ;D ;D ;D

[manicscousers]

eric's told me to plant my shallots on the shortest day, december, seems a bit of a funny time to me ?

[glosterwomble]

eric's told me to plant my shallots on the shortest day, december, seems a bit of a funny time to me ?

I was told that Garlic should be sown on the shortest day and harvested on the longest day, so I think he might be right for shallots.

[cornykev]

Shallots are normally Feb onwards when the soil is workable.  ;D ;D ;D

[manicscousers]

that's what I thought, ck  ???

[norfolklass]

b****r!
does that mean the Jermor shallots I planted on Sunday won't do very well?
thought I could plant over-wintering onion sets, shallots and garlic all at the same time, i.e. now.... :-\

[manicscousers]

don't know now, o/w onions and garlic are in the ground, I usually plan the shallots end jan/early feb, depending on the weather  :)

[norfolklass]

b****r b****r!
just googled and I should have waited until the spring :-[
do you think I can dig them up quick and they'll be none the wiser, or should I leave them?

OK, googled some more and they're listed on Mr Fothergills as an autumn-planting variety
now very confused!

[RosieMcPosie]

norfolk lass, if it's any consolation, i planted my shallots last week... with my garlic and onions... but then again, i'm a first timer too!  :D
i just figured i'd give them a go as i dont have much else in the ground atm!  :-\