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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: flowerofshona2007 on April 24, 2009, 13:12:31

Title: spring onions
Post by: flowerofshona2007 on April 24, 2009, 13:12:31
Why oh why can i not grow spring onions !!!!
I try every year, different ways, fresh seed everything i can think of and i just cant get them to grow  ::)
No problem with tropical plants, all other veggies, fruit ect and i even germinate rare seeds for a friend but can i grow spring onions NOOOOOOOOOOO !
Help   :P
Title: Re: spring onions
Post by: saddad on April 24, 2009, 13:13:34
I cheated and grew some normal onions from seed, we are eating the spares from the seed tray...  ;D
Title: Re: spring onions
Post by: Rhubarb Thrasher on April 24, 2009, 13:22:04
grow them as for leeks, in a tray, and then plant them out when they're quite large. It's the slugs what get them, when they're very small
Title: Re: spring onions
Post by: Eristic on April 24, 2009, 13:22:55
If you are having trouble direct sowing try germinating in a pot and transplanting to a deep seed box. They can then be grown to maturity in the box without difficulty. Just remember to water.
Title: Re: spring onions
Post by: daileg on April 24, 2009, 14:31:15
its  possible the ground is crusting over before they have a chance to pop up properly ive had trouble my self in the past as the other wise gardeners on here do sow in seed trays or large pots with plenty of seeds when big enough to handle three to four weeks transplant out to prepared seed bed see if this works for you as it does for me
Title: Re: spring onions
Post by: 1066 on April 24, 2009, 15:05:56
This is a well timed post flowerofshona so thanks all for the tips, have just started some off in pots to transplant. Thinking about erisitic's idea, you could use a deep window box, I use them for other stuff like lettuce, pak choi etc that the slugs seem to go for when young and tender

and good luck!
1066
Title: Re: spring onions
Post by: manicscousers on April 24, 2009, 17:32:41
one of our guys eats shallots as spring onions, just allows the bulb to split, pulls the whole bulb up and eats them  :)
Title: Re: spring onions
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on April 24, 2009, 20:47:13
I've used spare sets in the past. I've now got some Welsh onions courtesy of Saddad, so I'm going to bulk them up and use those.
Title: Re: spring onions
Post by: kt. on April 26, 2009, 18:26:30
I have direct sown this year and all seem to be growing well.  More effort was made to get the ground much finer than previously.  I have success with spring onions in 8" pots.  Usually around 10 per pot is suffice.
Title: Re: spring onions
Post by: terrier on April 26, 2009, 18:34:31
I always start them off in pots now after years of not being able to get them to grow. Leave them in a 3" pot until they are big enough then put the whole lot into the ground and grow them as a bunch of 10 to 15 onions, that works great for me. Now somebody tell me how to grow raddish! I get stem and leaves but no bulb at the end :(
Title: Re: spring onions
Post by: chriscross1966 on April 26, 2009, 18:42:29
Quote from: terrier on April 26, 2009, 18:34:31
I always start them off in pots now after years of not being able to get them to grow. Leave them in a 3" pot until they are big enough then put the whole lot into the ground and grow them as a bunch of 10 to 15 onions, that works great for me. Now somebody tell me how to grow raddish! I get stem and leaves but no bulb at the end :(

I'm trying them in last years growbags in the unheated  greenhouse..... they've got until I need the space for my tomatos (ie when the tomatos wnat to go in something that big....)

chrisc
Title: Re: spring onions
Post by: KathrynH on April 26, 2009, 18:48:30
My spring onions are always a bit hit and miss but I've just noticed the seeds I sowed a few weeks ago are starting to poke through so fingers crossed.

I've also just planted some Welsh onions, also courtesy of Saddad so if the posts are right, I'm looking foward to not having to grow spring onions ever again!
Title: Re: spring onions
Post by: tim on April 26, 2009, 19:33:38
Wholly agree with terrier. Ten-ish to a plug & plant when full of roots.

But sowed in rows last year in a raised bed & did well. Then again in October - broadcast in a Grow Bag in the cold house. Been pulling them for 2 months now, as shown earlier. By the handful!

And, of course, they are really Spring harvested Onions rather than Spring sown?
Title: Re: spring onions
Post by: kt. on April 27, 2009, 00:33:17
Woah!  If they do that well in a grow bag then I might buy one or two just for radish, spring onions and paris silverskin pickling onions.