How do you plant your onion sets?

[pookienoodle]

Went down to the lottie today to stick some onion sets in,I made a groove and put them in so the tops where sticking out a little bit.
The plotholder next door popped over and told me I was doing it all wrong and that they should be slightly pushed into flat soil.
he then proceeded to plant them for me,nearly all the set is on the surface.
Is this O.K?
I am more than willing to bow to experience but won't the birds just take them?

[pookienoodle]

[GlentoranMark]

I planted mine just under a few weeks ago and they've sprouted up just fine. Can't comment on above the soil as I've never done it.

[goodlife]

With "normal" onions..I like to do as you did..just tops showing..with shallots I'll just push them in half way..like your neighbour ::)

[PAULW]

If you are going to push them into the soil make sure the soil is freshly dug/tilled this then lets the roots get down into the soil, if the soil is hard when you push them in the roots grow and push the set out of the ground.

[Digeroo]

I plant mine like you with just a little bit of top showing.  But looking round the allotments here there are all sorts including some completely buried which are coming up fine.  There is one plot with most of the bulb showing, but we do not have much rain forecast so I think that the surface of the soil looks like drying out.

Sometimes local soil conditions can favour different methods.  I was told not to push them in becuase it compacts the soil beneath the bulb so the roots cannot grow through so they pop out of the soil, I use a trowel to make a little hole and then pull the earth back round.

[Tee Gee]

This is my way; http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Onions/Onion%20&%20Shallot-Sowing%20setts/onion%20&%20shallot-sowing%20setts.html

But I have to agree with Paulw & Digeroo your soil tilth is key.

e.g. if the tilth is good they will push in, if not and you push them in the roots may lift the set out again.

[pookienoodle]

Thanks all.
I think I will replant them tomorrow.
the tilth is not that great as its my first season working it.
I have noticed others on the site with a few sets that have popped up.

[allaboutliverpool]

The theory is that if you bury them, the birds will not tug at the dry bits for nesting material.

Take a tip from me and plant a few close together as they provide spring onions and as you thin them they reach almost full size in due course as you eat bigger and bigger thinnings.

See pictures on :- http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments_Vegetables_onions.html

[tonybloke]

the birds pull them up for the worms that gather beneath all plants ;)

[Geoff H]

I have always planted both shallots and onion sets with just the tops showing and if there is a bit of loose dry skin I tug it off so that the birds are not inclined to tug it out. Mine have always grown well and I have never had any problems.
I wouldn't agree - I think birds tend to tug at anything they see loose.

[nilly71]

last year was my first year growing and I didn't realise you were meant to leave a bit sticking out the top, mine were planted about 2" deep and done fine, this year they are planted near the top and only half of them have survived.

Neil

[elvis2003]

i snip the dry bits off the tops,just to give the birds less to grab in their beaks!

[antipodes]

This mystifies me too. Some of the "old 'uns" at my lotties seem to leave them practically on the surface??? But I bury mine and they seem to grow just as well... Guess it doesn't make that much difference. Maybe it affects that way the skins form or something? Can't see that there are anything wrong with mine so I will persist doing it like that!

[pookienoodle]

well I returned today and put them in a little bit deeper,thanks for the help(great tip about the thinnings AAL) it is hard when everyone has their own methods.

[euronerd]

For what it's worth, I start mine off in cellpacks and plant out when they've developed roots. It's a bit of a faff but so far they've all survived the birds.

Geoff.

[Geoff H]

To dry off the skins you can scrape away some of the soil as the bulbs start to ripen. As the plants start to develop and the bulbs swell they will tend to push up on to the surface anyway. If i have the time when they are ripening I just go round scraping soil away if needed but the plants have stopped growing by then. Trouble with putting them on the surface is that the soil will dry out and onions dont like that when they are growing rapidly.
Some of the old guys will use techniques that they have found to work best. Some will just use methods they have been told about but they have never really evaluated them and refuse to even think of changing their technique. The key to successful growing, no matter how old you are, is to keep an open mind and look for techniques that might be easier or better. I have come across young people who insist on using a particular technique and positively ancient gardeners who like to experiment and try new things.

[cornykev]

I loosen the soil then dib and pop them in with just the papery tip showing and firm down with fingers then snip off the tip if its too long.    ;D ;D ;D

[jono]

Hi,
In my opinion I always use a hand fork to loosen the soil below them them plant them  so that the top is just sticking out of the soil, if you do not pre dig the soil do not push them down into hard soil as this will damage the bottom which is where the roots stem from and can effect the size/shape of your onions. Also black birds love new onion sets so if you have a lot around put some mesh/cloth over them. Hope this helps!

[Robert_Brenchley]

I use a dibber to make little holes, and drop them in. Sometimes they stick out, sometimes they don't. It doesn't matter as long as they're not deeply buried. Then i cover them with a couple of inches of dead leaves or grass cuttings. You just have to find something that works for you.

[pookienoodle]

thanks so much for all the replies.
I dibbed and then planted with just a bit showing and they seem fine...time will tell. ;D