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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Georgie on April 03, 2006, 17:57:46

Title: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: Georgie on April 03, 2006, 17:57:46
The packet says they are easy to grow but I've tried sun, semi-shade and shade, inside and out,  home made compost, multi-purpose compost and JI no 2 and still I get weedy looking things which don't look like they will progress.  I'm not over-watering them or letting them dry out.  Any advice would be welcome.

G xx
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: tim on April 03, 2006, 18:05:06
Strange - so easy?
Just any old compost - 10 seeds per plug - plant each plug out when seedlings are 3-4" tall.
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: Dan 2 on April 03, 2006, 18:19:53
Hi Georgie, hi Tim! Im doing Spring onions for the first time this year in pots so Im afraid I can't help you Im afraid! BUT, Your advice helps me too Tim- cheers! Dan :-)
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: Susie Snowdrop on April 03, 2006, 18:34:05
Same here  :-[, i'm growing them for the first time also.  Any advice would be fantastic, wouldn't it Dan  ;)
Susie x
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: grawrc on April 03, 2006, 18:57:11
I just sprinkled them along a row last year and they all grew up. Don't know what I did right.
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: Two Choices on April 03, 2006, 19:42:34
I have had little luck growing outdoors, although last years sowing that I left in the plot as weedy little things are looking good ( 5 - 6 - inch proper looking spring onions)
I do regularly grow them in containers or in the greenhouse (use the freebie containers that produce from the supermarket comes in) by just sprinkling them sparsely, covering with about a quarter of an inch of soil and give them a good watering.  This year I am trying them in a length old old guttering.
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: Georgie on April 03, 2006, 20:14:05
They took six months or so TC?   :o  :o  :o

G xx
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: Two Choices on April 03, 2006, 20:28:12
If not longer Georgie. I must have sowed them July time hoping for a late crop and as nothing significant grew  just left them. TC
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: cleo on April 03, 2006, 20:34:16
Oi-what happened to my reply????-Tim is the man-I could grow them easy peasy until we moved here-then 11 years of hit and misss-Then Tim`s plug idea-it works
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: Hyacinth on April 03, 2006, 20:37:25
Quote from: tim on April 03, 2006, 18:05:06
Strange - so easy?
Just any old compost - 10 seeds per plug - plant each plug out when seedlings are 3-4" tall.

Another vote for Tim! (Steph your reply came in while I was posting this). I have HISTORY in failed s/onion...then I planted as T. suggested, last year for the 1st time.......SUCCESS!!

:-* Tim - Lishka
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: Georgie on April 03, 2006, 21:22:38
Many thanks Tim, I'll try your method.  :)

G xx
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: Amazin on April 03, 2006, 21:31:45
What size plugs Tim?
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: Georgie on April 03, 2006, 21:39:20
Someone had to ask - glad it wasn't me! ;)

G xx
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: Amazin on April 03, 2006, 21:45:27
And boy am I glad you started this thread off!

;D
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: euronerd on April 03, 2006, 22:00:55
Quote from: Two Choices on April 03, 2006, 19:42:34
last years sowing that I left in the plot as weedy little things are looking good ( 5 - 6 - inch proper looking spring onions)

Mine too! But I could swear they're not where I planted them.  ;D

Geoff.
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: Georgie on April 03, 2006, 22:06:15
Touche, Am.   ;)

G
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: Mrs Ava on April 03, 2006, 22:28:53
Yup, thanks to Tim again!  I now put a pinch of  seeds per cell - I suppose they are an inch square, and then plant them out in a little cluster.  You then pull them as a perfect bunch, just like you buy at the greengrocers!
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: DenBee on April 03, 2006, 22:43:58
It's excellent ideas like that one that make me glad I was told about this forum.  :)
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: Roy Bham UK on April 03, 2006, 23:44:32
Quote from: DenBee on April 03, 2006, 22:43:58
It's excellent ideas like that one that make me glad I was told about this forum.  :)

Yup totally agree, thanks Tim via Emma ;D
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: Amazin on April 04, 2006, 00:30:53
Thanks to all - I thought for a moment Tim meant those little Jiffy 7 plugs - had visions of trying to pour seed into the tiny hole at the top!
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: grawrc on April 04, 2006, 16:03:52
Thank you all! I'll just do it now before I forget! :)
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: Gadfium on April 04, 2006, 21:59:56
Last year I had weedy little things 2" high that just sat, and sat... until finally I forgot where I'd put them, and hoed them out by accident.

Another bod toddles off to find some plant cells and compost.

Thanks, Tim.
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: grawrc on April 05, 2006, 09:16:50
At plot yesterday noticed that the spring onions sowed in autumn have been "washed away" over winter. Just as well I've got more in modules now. :)
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: Mrs Ava on April 05, 2006, 13:45:21
You aren't alone grawrc.....old Jack on our site rotovated his in as he forgot they were there! See, wear your glasses even when you are doing bigger jobs!  :-\
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: plot51A on April 05, 2006, 14:16:54
Have just joined the modules club.

;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: Tora on April 05, 2006, 14:21:15
My Ishikura onion was sown in a pot indoor in February and germinated soon. They looked like doing nothing for ages but I have noticed they now have 2 blades of leaves!
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: grawrc on April 05, 2006, 14:40:28
In my case EJ it was the weather what dun it. LOL ;D
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: froglets on April 05, 2006, 15:28:54
Quote from: Amazin on April 04, 2006, 00:30:53
Thanks to all - I thought for a moment Tim meant those little Jiffy 7 plugs - had visions of trying to pour seed into the tiny hole at the top!


me too - doh!
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: SMP1704 on April 23, 2006, 11:24:00
Ok, I have read this thread, but unfortunately that was after I had singly sowed a tray of 24 cells.  When this try is empty, I will re-sow using Tim's method.

All of these have come through and are about two inches.  I have never grown spring onions before, so the questions is - do I plant them out at the same depth? and any other tips would be gratefully received.

Thanks
Title: Re: Spring onions - any tips?
Post by: RSJK on April 23, 2006, 11:42:02
Just come from allotment, sowed 6 rows pf white lisbon spring onions 2 weeks ago and they are up in full row now.  Remember that if you sow seeds in September in the ground that you must sow them twice as thick as normal to allow for loses over the winter.