Allotments 4 All

mine were flopping over at a great rate overnight, so since I needed the space I lifted the lot, and they can ripen in trays. A lot of them are small since they went in late, but overall they're not too bad.

Not bad at all - a harvest like yours is a sight for sore eyes! :o :)

Robert , how long were your onions in to grow to that size please, not sure if mine are almost ready.

what a great harvest robert, well done.

I planted a large bed in November, which did well, one at the beginning of December, which produced some reasonable onions, and one in mid-December, which did nothing. They should have gone in much earlier, but I was unwell and quite unfit to be working on the plot. October at the latest next year. Bob Flowerdew says plant them in mid-August in the south; I might well try it if I can get any that early.

After planting I add an inch or so of grass cuttings or dead leaves. This is often gone by May, but as they bulb up weeding becomes less important anyway.

Mine were sown in late August last year and although not as gorgeous as yours, I am eating the last of the crop as we speak (couldn't wait!) :P

What a great crop Robert, we are eating ours too and they gone down really well with the family, it's the 1st time we've grown them . They will be a definite this year too.

We planted ours in October, but they look a similar size to yours so I'm not sure that the earlier planting is absolutely necessary?

I remember reading somewhere that Bob Flowerdew says they must be in by August or they will fail for certain, I guess he must mean seeds?

Howdy,

Do you have to grow the 'Japanese' varieties to overwinter them or will any type do??

Jon

Hi Robert
Fantastic looking crop.
My winter onions are still in the ground and so far showing no signs of going over.
As they are a good size can i lift them and let them dry out in the normal way?

many thanks
Scumpy

PS mine went in mid Dec and have grown to a very good size.

Hi all,  :D
                  Jon, there are specific varieties for overwintering, usually found as sets, as well as japanese sunshui, you will find radar & electric red, last year I grew radar & had an excellent crop, this year I grew the japanese variety & likewise a very good crop,  69p for 50 from Wilko`s) they however have all bolted but by removing the flowering stem  & leaving them in the ground they are fine & are still getting fatter.

                                                                                    Adrian.

Quote from: jonny211 on June 12, 2006, 08:49:42
Do you have to grow the 'Japanese' varieties to overwinter them or will any type do??

The Japanese ones did well for me last year, this year I'm going to try red Italian onions from Franchi as well (from Northern Italy).

Great question. You'd think any onion would do - onion flowers in July/August, seed drops, seed grows, seedling overwinters ??? Maybe it's something to do with the moisture content?

Scumpy, if your onions are falling over, then you can lift them and let them ripen in trays, same as I have. If they're still upright, it's probably better to leave them. Don't bend them over yourself, leave them to fall naturally. Going back to Flowerdew's brief comment, he does mention direst sowing, so he must mean seed. I couldn't quite see the sets needing to go in that early!

I thought the japanese ones didn't store for long. Mine are not japanese - think they are radar and electric red. They have all done well, although the red are not quite as large as the others. Will they keep a reasonable length of time? I hope so - have got far too many to use quickly!

It's the Japanese onion seeds that need planting in mid August.

Planting or sowing Mike? :)

Picky, sowing ;D ;D

Quote from: periwinkle on June 12, 2006, 16:50:57
I thought the japanese ones didn't store for long. Mine are not japanese - think they are radar and electric red. They have all done well, although the red are not quite as large as the others. Will they keep a reasonable length of time? I hope so - have got far too many to use quickly!

Just the reds I've got and just the question I'd like to ask! Most of mine have fallen (or were pushed by that dashed fox :o) with just a few still standing.

So..keeping time, anyone any ideas please?

Quote from: MikeB on June 12, 2006, 20:33:57
Picky, sowing ;D ;D

I hang on your every work Mike ;) ;D

Lish, once they're cured keep them somewhere cool where you can see them and remove the odd sprouter?

Cured, S? Didn't know they were ill ::) ;D

My potting shed's nice and cool, so they can go there. Thanks.

Groan lish ;) ;D

Quote from: jonny211 on June 12, 2006, 08:49:42
Do you have to grow the 'Japanese' varieties to overwinter them or will any type do??

Jonny, just happened to be browsing the seeds-by-size pages and came across their list of overwintering onions to sow from seed. Spring onions too! :o :o

ONION; Overwintering

Buffalo F-1;(aj) Can be sown in mid August or sown very early,not suitable for storage.
Express Yellow;(ag) Heavy yielding,early, good colour,uniform.
Hi Keeper F-1;(ag) Easy grower,high yielding,globe shape,hard brown yellow skin,
                   Keeps well for long storage.
Keepwell F-1;(ag) Mid season maturity,stores
Ramrod (ab) High performing,winter hardy,erect stiff leaved Lisbon type,developed for
            spring,late summer & autumn cropping.
Sonic F-1 (ag) Japanese,vigorous,very early to mature,semi globe shaped bulbs with straw coloured
               skin of medium thickness,excellent taste.  Good yield for this type.
Stuttgart Giant; (ab) Large flat shaped onion with golden skin & pale yellow flesh. Can be
                      sown mid to late August for overwintering.
Toughball F-1;(ag) Medium early,300g size,stores to Dec.,good disease tolerance
Extra Early Kaizuka;(af) Very early, not a long term storer.     
Imai Yellow;(af) Early, medium size bulbs, yellow/brown skin.                           
Senshyu Semi-Globe Yellow;(af) Heavy yielding maincrop.                                 
Winter White Bunching;(af) Stiffer,stronger foliage than White Lisbon,May cropping.