Allotments 4 All

I got a packet of onion seeds (just fancied the look of them), as I already have my set onions in for ages. They are a brownish-red variety, a Roja de Zalla. It says late spring planting on the packet but have noticed that most of you don't grow onion seed now. My question is that I don't mind if they give me just salad onions, that could be quite nice, will they actually grow now? And how big can I expect them to be in a month or two? They are in a nice sunny spot, I put them near my root veg, hope that was a good idea (yes I have already sown them, just a row to see).
And if I leave them longer, what will happen? will I get set onions for next spring? Or will they just rot in the ground??

we grow all sorts of onions from seed, we use them as and when, as salad onions then leave some to get bigger, maybe they don't grow the same as sets but we get different varieties as well..maybe they won't be any good for storage but they get used anyway   :)

I had to google this variety.

It seems they are meant to be sown in late summer and over wintered-try a few more and see?

What do I do with my onions that are pushing up a thick flower spike please. are they still edible ?      :-\ Rohaise

I planted 4 full sized onions from last season to see if I could get seeds from them as the friend who gave me them said they were special.

They are growing very well but are splitting  into a few shoots llike shallotts do.

Is this the ususal way ??

XX Jeannine

Cut them (flowers) off & don't try to store them (onions).

Thanks Tim and Jeannine  ...        But can I still eat them ?    Rohaise  x

Jeanine, It is usual the splits should all bolt(go to seed )let em flower fully then cover flowers with a paper bag to catch seed...
Rohaise ,Yes the onions are ok to eat, pick em but as Tim says they wont store  for very long ...

i love the idea of growing onion from seed, i started mine about 3 weeks ago in trays along with my leeks but i cant now remember which is an onion and whats a leek  ;D

Onions have round hollow leaves leeks dont .their leaves are flattish..   :)

good tip :-)

I have a mamoth planting day planted for friday and saturday so i will know what to plant then :-) there about 3-4 inches high and i plan on planting then out and pop a closh over them till there established...

Tahnk you so much Gromore, I will do just that, The friend who gave me them couldn't remember the name but they are apparently Japanese and a friend brought them from abroad. To me they looked like typican flattish Japs but as they were sprouting I thought I would have a go XX Jeannine

Don,t if there is any local shows where you live JENNINE but if there is and they bench big onions see if you can get one or two as it is not hard to get the seed from them altho it does take a year. If you are intrested i will post what you have to do.

Davy I have already planted them but it would be good to get the real directions.XX Jeannine

I have never tried it with normal onions as i don,t think its worth the effort but there should be no difference. When your onions are ready look for the exceptional ones the largest of the crop. After pulling it cut of the top leaving about 2" or 3" of neck, cut the roots of without damaging the onion and clean it back. Put the onion upside down resting in a tube to drain out the juices when they have drained you then plant the onion in a tub and grow it on till the seed head appears. All you need to do is watch for the seed turning black cut it off and dry it out then remove the seed and you are off again. Nothing complicated just a bit of TLC through out the year to get the seed.

Thanks Davy I will try that with this years onions and I will leave these three last years in to see what happens. Thank you Jeannine xx

I grew some last summer that were left over from the previous harvest. They made beautiful flowers in the border, and the seeds  I saved are just about 1 inch high now.

I will plant some old ones every year now, just for the flowers!

cj :)

Can you grow ornamental alliums (Globemaster) in the same way ?

I collected some seed summe 2005 and put it in a seed tray. Last year go lots of little shoots and after it died down I had lots of bulbils, abut the size of an wheat seed.

This year had a number sprout (about a third of last years), but all sproutings have now turned brown and are starting to droop.

I can't ever see me getting an onion sized allium to plant in the garden !

Ornamentals such as Globemaster can take 3-4 years from seed. You must be patient but at anything up to £4 a bulb it is well worth the wait.