Allotments 4 All

Sorry if I am repeating earlier posts on this, but my red barons and ummm...eerr...can't remember the white ones, orion or something, well, they arrived today.  When is the optimum planting out time please?

EJ,

Are they seeds or sets?

Phil

Sorry Phil, sets, arrived from Tuckers (along with my seed spuds) on this very fine day.

Hi ej,
Sets are normally planted out early March, however if you have a greenhouse you could start them off in small pots to give them a flying start. All the best for 2005

painter

hmmmm, would take a hell of a lot of pots, however, would this be the way to beat the white rot problem?....  Thanks for that, I shall keep them cool and dark for another month.  :D

I set 15 shallots to a seed tray, I presume you could do the same with onion sets . . .

I use the 7cm square black plastic jobs - no roots to untangle when they need planting out.

March seems about right

Phil

do yo need to rotate onions or can you grow them in the same beds every time,?what is the best fertiliser?

Quote from: swampig on January 24, 2005, 09:27:11
do yo need to rotate onions or can you grow them in the same beds every time,?what is the best fertiliser?

Definately rotate, have a look at these links:

http://www.hdra.org.uk/factsheets/gg19.htm

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles1200/crop_rotation.asp

http://www.workaholic.karoo.net/Groundwork/CropRotation.htm

This helps with soil fertility and diseases.

As for feed I would just use a general purpose fertiliser such as Growmore. Do not over feed with nitrogen though as this will produce lots of soft lush growth that may be attached by powdery mildew given the right weather conditions.

Jerry

I bought 2 bags of onion sets (I assume that is the little bulbs ???) earlier this week - it said on the bag to open the bag immediatley and lay them in a seed tray in a cool dry place.

I put them in my porch next to my pots that are chitting (different trays of course) but now the onions are going mouldy. I have thrown about 4 out this morning.

I assume this mean that the porch is much too damp for the onions - it does have damp 'issues' -   I am going to move the onions to the drier basement post haste but I can't move the pots there as it is too dark.

I am worried that the pots are going to go mouldy too. Is this likely to be a problem ? This is my first year growing anything so sorry if these q's are a bit basic.

Thanks in advance. AL

1. I've had experience of sets arriving mouldy.
2. Yes March - even April - is fine.
3. If they are mouldering, I would wash them off, dry & store dry. No need for light unless they are sprouting.
4. If they are sprouting, surely, someone, they should go out now??  They won't improve by keeping. = Tim

Hi EJ - the earlier you put them in the larger they are likely to be at harvest time.  Last year I grew Red Baron from seed in my greenhouse.  I used a 60 cell tray where the cells are about an inch in diameter.  This is okay up I plant them out which I did in late March a week or two after planting my Sturon sets.  The Sturon stayed ahead of the RB for most of the spring into summer but at harvest - both on the same day - there was little to choose between them.  Unfortunately both types were a bit on the big side for our preference but we are enjoying them none the less.  Used fish blood and bone fertilised and watered regularly during the early part of the summer. 

So if I were to plant them soon, my question is, would the frost or snow cause damage??

Just got my sets too (from local garden centre). I am thinking maybe to start them off in  a cell tray then plat out later - question is when to plant out if you grow them this way?

Alternatively if you live in a mild area as i do could you plant out direct as early as february?

??? ???

Quote from: EJ - Emma Jane on January 30, 2005, 22:16:10
So if I were to plant them soon, my question is, would the frost or snow cause damage??

Hi EJ - If they are the usual British/northern Europe onion sets then they are pretty hardy creatures and I have had them stand late frosts, which are often harder in February/March than in December/January where I live.  Put half in now and the rest a few weeks later if you are uncertain.

What about starting them off in seed trays and then planting in say 4 weeks time and then covering with fleece if frost is a worry?
Jem x

Quote from: GardnerJ on January 31, 2005, 10:45:35
What about starting them off in seed trays and then planting in say 4 weeks time and then covering with fleece if frost is a worry?
Jem x

Probably not a bad idea that gardenerj. I always put fleece over newly planted sets anyway to stop the birds pulling them up again.

I suppose it all depends on soil conditions rather than weather/timing. I wouldnt risk planting onion sets in wet soil (and of course theres little point even tryong on freezing cold soil).

i have covered some of my beds with plastic so i may use one of those beds for the shallots and onions, will the soil be dry enough to plant then?
Jem

have put out a set in Oxfordshire - many were already sprouting. have buried them 3 or 4 inches down to protect them from frost ... am bluffing slightly but my grandma who used to have a HUGE garden said why not give it a go, did wonder about frosts etc

I have loads and loads of sets so putting them all into cell trays would be a big undertaking.  I shall hold off for a while, keep an eye on them and see how things go, and what you lot post about your plantings.