Allotments 4 All

Does anyone have any thoughts on if i should plant my winter onions on the ground i used for potatoes this year.  One book i read said it was not a good idea as they may get thick necks  ???

Lots of ideas - no knowledge. Although onions & pots are in the same rotational group, I've not knowingly suffered by that follow-on. = Tim

Ah well, thanks Tim.
i remembered that it was Bob flowerdew in KG nov 2003 where i read it

And it was just after i had prepared the ground for the onions and ordered them that i read that!
But yes i think i will go ahead

Remember that potatoes will have depleted potassium levels in the soil. Some increased supplementation, above and beyond normal side dressing, with K just prior to bulbing may be needed.

Followed my arran pilots with 2 varieties of leek this year and they've done really well; about to start eating the early ones
Planted winter onion sets to follow  desiree last week so we'll see what happens

Dave - you mention winter onion sets.....are these available now then in the shops or presumably from a seed catalogue...if planted about now, when are they harvested please?

Go away tomorrow for about 12 days so may not see answer for little while....

Maggie

I received my onions from Marshalls a couple of weeks back, but they can be planted out I think right through until the start of November. They don't store as well as summer planted sets, altho my winter onions from last year didn't get white rot and I still have a dozen or so strung up in my shed and they are doing just fine!  ;D

Forgot to say...can't remember when I harvested them, but I guess it was early summer time.....to start with I pulled them as I needed them, then when I wanted the growing room I pulled the rest up and left them to dry at home in the garden.

Wow - thanks for quick reply Emma - will get some while I'm away in Chelmsford, probably Wilkinsons will have some - we've not got one here in Reading  :'(

Maggie

Did you find any in wilko's? My local one only has flower bulbs.

I thought onion sets were planted in spring and seeds sown in August? The seed catalogue I've got from my allotment are selling sets but with a delivery for early January, will this be too late?  ???

You can get overwintering (Japanese) onions now for planting from now until the end of October.  The sets you see delivered in January are for planting in early spring - your maincrop onions I guess you would call them.  They store for longer, but mine all succumbed to white rot, so I think I will be giving them a miss next year.  :'(

No, I didn't see any either in Chelmsford's Wilko's - like your branch Sarah, they only had flowering bulbs (well when I was in there anyway) - got back from Chelmsford today and was in there a day or two ago (for the 2nd or 3rd time and still not any  :(). However, I did see them in Chelmsford market so maybe your local market gardening stalls are good places to look also. H.P.