I have just planted my overwinter Japanese onion sets and solent wight garlic today. Do i need to feed the ground now or in spring? And what do you feed onions with?
They won't need much now..most of the growth is put on during spring/early summer..so you need to apply feed late winter/spring. Something like BFB is fine or light dressing of chicken manure pellets..sprinkle some around the newly emerging plants as soon as you notice them awakening from the winter and putting bit of growth on. During winter months you may see bit of sticking out of ground but they would not need anything then yet.
You could give some bone meal now..that will the essential nutrients for root development and as it is slow releasing it is enough to keep them going untill spring and the next more 'wholesome' meal..
I prepare my rooftop tubs by adding chicken manure pellets, a bit of horse manure, bit of home made compost and occasionally some blood/fish/bone meal.. I do it and then plant the sets. Put them out till it gets cold then into the greenhouse for winter. They do seem to freeze solid for a bit then asap when the days warm up I get them onto the roof again. Mid April they are ready to have as green onions in white sauce and for stews and soups. No more feeding is done at all. :)
I'm just preparing the ground now by digging in good stuff - manure and compost - then I will plant the sets mid October and start feeding Miracle Grow from the end of March/early April.
Some of the Vets say that the feeding makes them bolt but I haven't really noticed that.
I've only ever had bolting problems from seed sowings and a tiny bit from sets that have had spells of being too dry... Just natures way of sustaining the species and multiplying if conditions are bad for their own survival by producing the seed heads...
I've not bought mine yet, I bit early for me KT, I will put chicken pellets on the raised beds I've made with my pallet hold up thingies. ;D
I put my garlic and shallots in where my pumpkins and squash have been which are heavily manured at the start of this year, and then as mentioned use chicken manure pellets hoed in in the spring. I was just looking where I am going to get my Messidrome garlic from this year, I might have to make do with some more Marco instead...
It does seem a bit early KTL by a week or so. I feed them in late winter/early spring when the tops start to grow - give them a nice weed and a hoe to break up the winter pan, and a sprinkle of growmore.