Lousy year for onions in general

[petefj]

The past 10 months have been lousy for  onions.

I put in over-wintering onions in late October last year and I've just lifted them.  They are very poor, small and a lot with thick necks.  My shallots proved to be very poor, and the main crop onions equally bad.

Has this been the same for everyone on this forum?  I really can't remember when I last had such a poor crop of onions.  I've always been able to provide a good crop, and this lot is enough to make one think about allotments, and whether or not it's worth while.  Other than soft fruit, so far the year is pretty bad.

Is this the same for everyone here?
I'm in Cornwall, and the weather like everyone else has experienced has been very wet with a marked lack of sun.

Peter

[petefj]

[RenishawPhil]

Actually has been ok for us. Our over wintering onions have done well. The main crop are a bit small but are ok and have all been lifted. Shallots are ok. Only failure were the red onions which all bolted and I do mean all!

So over all better then expected

[Robert_Brenchley]

My shallotts were rubbish; something chewed half the tops away. The onions were OK, though. Nothing special, but then they never are.

[Digeroo]

Over winter ones ok.  Put about 30 to dry some B knicked some so I ended up with 24.   Which will last me for weeks.  Summer ones rather poor.

[bluecar]

I've had a good over winter crop. The shallots are mixed although the majority are small. The main crop are doing well, but they are no way near lifting.

Regards

Bluecar

[cornykev]

Winter crop the best ever
Summer OK but a bit small but still have some greenery on them
Shallots both Winter and Summer were poor
I did them in council compost raised beds for the first time this year because of the onion rot, so maybe this has helped.   :-\  ;D

[grawrc]

Great winter onions, poor shallots. My summer onions are still in the ground and still growing. Lettuce has done really well as have turnips and beetroot.

[Jayb]

Summer onions are not great, many on the small side as they got knocked somewhat from mould with all the wet weather we have had  ::)

[Jeanbean]

Our over-winter onions were quite disappointing. Red ones suffered worst with thick neck, shallots ok but onions were on the small side and are not storing too well. They don't seem to have dried out as well as usual even tho' they were left to dry for some time. Main crop almost the same. Less thick neck but considering we planted a giant variety, they seem to be more like dwarfs. Have put it down to wet weather but may have to look at our soil preparation prior to planting

[sticks]

My maincrop onions, both yellows & reds, have been very poor and shallots are really quite small. The only onions that seem to have done well have been my spring onions - I grew While Lisbon and Paris Silverskin and I've had amazing crops from them both.

[chriscross1966]

Spring sown bulb shallots are a bit on the small side but will make good pickles (my main use for them), January sown from seed onions are OK-ish ,not been a great year but I can live with them. The shallots sown from seed have been varied, had patchy germination, but some of the plants in the ground are huge, nearly as big as the onions and will make fine cookers if we get a hot spell soon.... otherwise storage might be an issue adn I don't know how much more wet they'll take before downy mildew is an issue... next doors overwintered form set onions look pretty good so I've gt some toughball plants to go in... Spring onions done OK

[Deb P]

Mixed bag for me, shallots that we're over wintered were ok, spring sets were rubbish! Banana shallots from seed are doing well, but I've had the best spring onions ( sown in modules at the same time as the banana shallots) ever, they are doing brilliantly. Funny old year eh..

[Hazelb]

mixed:

First time for garlic..did quite well.

first time for red onions: The ones that didn't bolt seem to be rotting in the ground.

Onions: some rotting, some ok...not as good as usual. I'm lifting now to try and dry them out well.

[technophobe]

Overall good for me..
Garlic: Purple Wight & Sprint were very good, Solent Wight & Jolimont ok
Elephant Garlic: Very good
Shallots: All very good esp Jermor, Picasso & Red Sun..also has Griselle, Red Sun & Golden Gourmet
Onions: Overwintered Radar from sets good,  overwintered Hi-ball from seed quite good....Took a chance in feb and planted some Stuttgarter Spring sets early-ish and they are all ok too....April sets still in the ground but look good size wise----some Red sets did bolt tho..

[gavinjconway]

Onions have been great... about the only thing that has been good.. oh and my strawbs..

I planted 5 varieties of onion.. and all have done really well..

Jetset
Sturon
Stuttgarter Giant
Centurion
Silver

[green lily]

My over wintered sets[Troy] are big and a bit thick necked coz I fed them in the spring ::)but they are drying ok on the clothes airer. Only one has rotted so far.
The main summer crop [Jeune Paille de Vertus] is my first attempt from seed and they are growing fine. I'm quite proud of them.... ;)
The garlic- my pride and joy succumbed to rust :( and I'm wondering whether to give a fire/rust break or just to search for a more rust resistant type. Any ideas anyone please?

[grawrc]

My garlic had rust but it's dried up fine. Not quite as big as usual but there was no sunshine to ripen it.

[TheEssexYorkshireman]

My over wintering onions weren't bad at all this year but maincrop are a disaster. A lot of them are not much bigger than the sets that I put in and something's eaten ALL the greenery!