Allotments 4 All

HOw long does it take for red ones to start growing. I was advised by someone on A4A to plant them about two weeks ago but still no growth on them, same with my elephant garlic

I put 50 sets of Sturon and 50 sets of Red Baron into cell trays 3 weeks ago in a cold greenhouse. Most of the sturon now have a decent sized shoot but the red baron are only now starting to show signs of sprouting. I'd advise patience.

Thanks for your posts! I bought my first ever net of red onion sets on Saturday and was disappointed that one of my old books advised to wait with planting them until May! I can't possibly wait that long! I am going to put them in trays tomorrow!

Quote from: alienwithaview on February 26, 2008, 20:20:33
I can't possibly wait that long! I am going to put them in trays tomorrow!

Plant them in loo roll tubes, mine are doing great out in a coldframe. I think they are about 6" tall now.

I planted mine in the homemade  newspaper pots, so I will wait a bit longer to see if they grow

CanI plant sturon now, a few people on this site advised to wait till april to plant them.  I have been itching to plant them.

Onions won't start to grow if the soil is too cold, and may rot if we get a wet month... but starting them inside in cells allows the roots to start and the shoots to start... then when you plant them out they should make a flying start..  ;D

Mine will be going out as soon as I have time. It's warm enough for them to be rooting quietly, even if they do nothing else.

I planted my red onions out last Sunday, along with my Jermor shallots, so it will be interesting to see how they do. Was my impatience that spurred me on, and the fact that I have planted them out at this time before, and they did okay. Will just have to hope we don't get too much frost, though if it is forcast will just go over and put some fleece over them. busy_lizzie

My Red Baron aren't even due for delivery until March.

Quote from: busy_lizzie on February 27, 2008, 11:26:31
I planted my red onions out last Sunday, along with my Jermor shallots, so it will be interesting to see how they do. Was my impatience that spurred me on, and the fact that I have planted them out at this time before, and they did okay. Will just have to hope we don't get too much frost, though if it is forcast will just go over and put some fleece over them. busy_lizzie

Sorry to seem stupid but was this seedlings or sets for the red onions? I have seedlings that are on windowsil in propagator and are now about 7cm tall. What should i do with them as they seem to look a bit on the limp side??

Mine are sets, I got my red barons back in Jan already but only planted them a little while ago, I planted my sturons today, and my japenese onions back in Jan, my jap onions are starting to grow nicely, but the red ones not yet, they are in newspapeold green house and advised by a4a.  tThe roots are strting to get there on the red onions so lets hope they start soon.
When is the best time to put them in the actual allotment

Mine were sets and I took them up to the lottie on Sunday and have planted them out now.  busy_lizzie

do onions needs a lot of watering, or do they need to be kept dry

For my first year I experimented with seed, but bought some sets too.  I have been told the sets can go in now, but the seeds sewn a few weeks ago are looking a bit sorry - same story as helsbels.

Some of them are ok, but a few of them are just withering away and dieing.

Any idea when the seedlings should go into the ground?  Should I put them in a coldframe at the allotment now to harden off?

Here are some of the more healthy looking ones...

I've also grown from seed for the first time this year. I have started them off in the house and they are now a couple of inches tall but no second leaf yet.Just wondering whether it's safe to move them to an unheated greenhouse?

ours have ben in the unheated poly all through the cold frosty days and are okay  ;D

Ok- that'll give me space for something else in the ktchen!

QuoteI was advised by someone on A4A to plant them about two weeks ago

Wasn't me  ::)  I don't plant mine till Week 18 (1st week in May)

I don't even bother starting them off in case I damage the roots when planting and onions don't like that.

Have to say I've been amazed how early some people are planting both onion sets and potatoes. I haven't even had some of mine from T & M yet. I know we're in the frozen North, TG, but even so...!