Brought some sets the other day, could i start them off in trays then move them on at a later date? do i keep them in a greenhouse? Thanks.
Yes you could, I understand your eagerness but there is no rush. Planting them out anytime from mid March to the beginning of April will be fine.
Thanks Gunnerbee, I was going to ask the same question!!
I have 700 onion sets I want to get in!!
I haven't put my shallots in yet cos it's been so cold, when do they have to be in by?
Not so much of being eager, just had a knee operation and wondered if i could start them in trays because i cant get out in the garden at the moment!!
You can plant them when the weather warms up a bit, no need to worry. Mine are going to sit in the shed till it's a bit less arctic.
And Mothy - with that number, unless you want exhibition bulbs, plant them close together. Much more useful in the kitchen.
One of our 'experts' swears that transplanted sets grow bigger than ones planted straight into the ground.
Tim,
Many thanks, exhibition sized onions are certainly not the intention. What spacing do you recommend? I hope to be able to store them in either nets or string them up, does size affect the storage properties of onions?
I lost some larger ones from last years crop that went rotten, most of the smaller ones have been great.
Liking them small, I put them in about 3" apart.
Don't know, but I can believe that the smaller ones keep better.
Hiya,
Has anyone grown onions from seed before... I have some 'Bedfordshire Champion' seeds but am wondering whether to sow directly into the ground or start in biodegradeable modules and plop these into the ground at a later date. Also if I start them from seed now will they mature and swell before the frosts come?
All ideas are welcome!
Jon
I like to put my shallots on compost on a seed tray so they start rooting prior to planting out as I find the birds have more trouble tugging them out of the soil.
I have red barron sown 2 weeks ago. I sowed in a seed tray and then into modules when they are 2 inches tall.
seem to be alright.
have to be in the warm to germinate though.
Quote from: jonny211 on February 27, 2006, 10:41:53
Hiya,
Has anyone grown onions from seed before... I have some 'Bedfordshire Champion' seeds but am wondering whether to sow directly into the ground or start in biodegradeable modules and plop these into the ground at a later date. Also if I start them from seed now will they mature and swell before the frosts come?
All ideas are welcome!
Jon
It is normal to sow onion seed early in the year, I started min of in January and they germinated at about 21 days. This is in a warm greenhouse in trays. They will get potted on soon and then into a coldframe prior to planting out.
If you sow them now they will be fine but just a little smaller than normal but some say the smaller onions store better than the large.
HTH
Jerry
Quote from: jonny211 on February 27, 2006, 10:41:53
Hiya,
Has anyone grown onions from seed before... I have some 'Bedfordshire Champion' seeds but am wondering whether to sow directly into the ground or start in biodegradeable modules and plop these into the ground at a later date. Also if I start them from seed now will they mature and swell before the frosts come?
All ideas are welcome!
Jon
Sowed my bedfordshire champ on the 13-02-2006 and will pot them on into a ' box ' in about two weeks and then plant out in April after hardening off.
Champs as of now, also the potting on crate and the onion dibber for when I plant out.
Thanks for the pictures MikeB, they help a lot - especially the patent Onion Dibber, did you make it yourself? Love these patent devices lots, would love instructions if you have them ;D
What a good idea! Do you have multiple plates with different size dowels for different plantings?
Hi SS,
It's a 12" x 12" piece of plywood, divided in a 4 by 4 grid i.e. 3" in all directions. A handful of doweling plugs, drill 16 holes, hammer in dowels. I use it for transplanting onions and for planting carrot seed. For the carrot seed it's three seeds per hole, a bit tiresome, but saves thinning out and the risk of carrot fly later in the season. If more than 1 seed germinates I snip off the weakest seed(s) with a pair of nail scissors. I also have other ' dibbers ' on a 4" and 6" spacing.
Thank you for the instructions mike :D, will deliver them pronto to my son's friend who runs a school woodworking class. My those little fingers will be busy. This gadget will be the envy of the allotments, better get a new lock for the shed. Oh, better get a shed first :-[ ;D
;) Great idea :D
What a terrific dibber Mike.....I'm gonna have to make one!! ;D
Hmmm... I've got mine outside in a propagator as my greenhouse isn't up yet - I've got a few starting to germinate but nothing as good as yours MikeB. Maybe it's time for plan B - dump 'em off at the folks' and let them germinate in their conservatory.
Thanks for the pictures, I know what I'm aiming for now!
Jon
just about to take on an allotment , I see there are onion plants there already, must be from last year as it is somewhat overgrown. Should I dig them all out or leave them and be ever hopefull ?
Any advice greatfully received.................. ???
hi emaggie and welcome to the forum :)
Do you need the space urgently for something else? If not, leave them in and ... See What Happens :o ;D ;D ;D
Thanks for the welcome, Supersprout, and I shall do just that.
So glad I found this site----it's brilliant.
If Your short of room wait til late April early May and set a row of onion seeds fairly thickly ..Leave them to their own devices and you will get a lot of table size onions .. Some up to half a pound,, These were Ailsa craigs...cheers Jim.
Impressive Jim, I may try that method myself just to use up old seed ...
Thanks for the brilliant pics growmore, will give it a go this year and have marked it in my planting calendar. They look superb.
Did'nt you bother thinning out Jim. Alisa craig thats the seeds i'm trying for the 1 st time.
Been and had a look and a squeeze !!!!! Too soggy to leave I fear, but will have a bash at the Ailsa Craigs. :)
Hi Northener, No I just set the seeds about an inch or so apart and leave them ...
Will be doing same this year with golden bear onions ..Cheers Jim...
Hope you're going to post pics of any big ones you get this year Jim (7 pounders maybe) ?
;D
growmore>> when did you sow those?
Growmore - they look fab.
Alison
Hi FB I think it would be about the 2nd week in May certainly no earlier..The pic
was took around the 12th of Sept..
Jenny,The elusive half a stone onion ??? with the British record at over 16 lbs You Wouldn't think 7lbs would be a lot to ask for would You??.. :)
Have stripped this one and it is now growing in a pot for next years seeds We live in hope ...Cheers ..Jim