Allotments 4 All

Alot of plot holders have already planted kelsae Onion seeds already
I dont do mine till end of January
does anybody else sow early ?.

I'll be putting mine in over Xmas... along with the Spanish Giant and the modestly named but ridiculously large Russian Standard..... then the next batch is the Aisla Craig, Sturon, Tropea, Sweet Spanish White, Long Red Florence and Red Baron followed by the Ishikura (spring), Prisma (shallot), Borettana and Paris Silverskin (pickling)

chrisc

Quote from: chriscross1966 on December 13, 2009, 05:11:17
I'll be putting mine in over Xmas... along with the Spanish Giant and the modestly named but ridiculously large Russian Standard..... then the next batch is the Aisla Craig, Sturon, Tropea, Sweet Spanish White, Long Red Florence and Red Baron followed by the Ishikura (spring), Prisma (shallot), Borettana and Paris Silverskin (pickling)

chrisc

How big is your allotment???  or do you just plant one of each?     ;)

As the saying goes,

set your onions away on Xmas day or there abouts if your sober

Quote from: Yorkshire Sam on December 14, 2009, 10:55:28

Quote from: chriscross1966 on December 13, 2009, 05:11:17
I'll be putting mine in over Xmas... along with the Spanish Giant and the modestly named but ridiculously large Russian Standard..... then the next batch is the Aisla Craig, Sturon, Tropea, Sweet Spanish White, Long Red Florence and Red Baron followed by the Ishikura (spring), Prisma (shallot), Borettana and Paris Silverskin (pickling)

chrisc

How big is your allotment???  or do you just plant one of each?     ;)

Umm... I like onions..... 250 sqm..... plus I'll be getting another half this year by the looks of things... one of my six rotation sets is onions

Wow a veggie question - great :D

Do you plant the seeds inside or out?  If inside do  you put them in separate cells or don't they mind moving?

Quote from: Digeroo on December 15, 2009, 10:43:19
Wow a veggie question - great :D

Do you plant the seeds inside or out?  If inside do  you put them in separate cells or don't they mind moving?

I set mine away in a tray.covered to exclude any light till they have germinated, then pot them on as soon ss they the straighten up.

Many thanks so what is the advantage in comparison to sets?

Quote from: Digeroo on December 15, 2009, 14:27:12
Many thanks so what is the advantage in comparison to sets?

Seed grown will never bolt, onions are obligate biennials, sets are hostage to the weather conditions.... You get a much bigger variety with seeds, onion seeds keep for several years if stored sensibly so you can just grow a few of them each year if you want.
You won't get big onions from sets..

[benny hill voice from the italian job]

"I likes 'em big, you know I likes 'em big"

[/benny hill voice from the italian job]

chrisc

Quote from: Digeroo on December 15, 2009, 14:27:12
Many thanks so what is the advantage in comparison to sets?

Other than whats been said,
Seed onions tend to store better, but then you have to nurse them till they go into the ground, with sets there is no looking after just buy them and plant them.

And what about Kelsae onions what is special about them?

Quote from: Digeroo on December 15, 2009, 18:24:10
And what about Kelsae onions what is special about them?

For me there is nothing special about them other than they grow bigget than the normal onion set and most normal onion seed

Quote from: davyw1 on December 15, 2009, 18:26:14

Quote from: Digeroo on December 15, 2009, 18:24:10
And what about Kelsae onions what is special about them?

For me there is nothing special about them other than they grow bigget than the normal onion set and most normal onion seed

...and you likes em big?

I'll report back next year on the trial between kelsaes and the other two biggies I'm growing next year.....

Quote from: chriscross1966 on December 16, 2009, 02:19:33

Quote from: davyw1 on December 15, 2009, 18:26:14

Quote from: Digeroo on December 15, 2009, 18:24:10
And what about Kelsae onions what is special about them?

For me there is nothing special about them other than they grow bigget than the normal onion set and most normal onion seed

...and you likes em big?

I'll report back next year on the trial between kelsaes and the other two biggies I'm growing next year.....

To get em big you have to plant them early

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Do you use lights?.... it's somewhere on my to-do list to rig some blue LED's to try and increase the day length a bit (and give them a bit more light even during the say when it's horrible and grey....

chrisc

Quote from: chriscross1966 on December 20, 2009, 00:33:03
Do you use lights?.... it's somewhere on my to-do list to rig some blue LED's to try and increase the day length a bit (and give them a bit more light even during the say when it's horrible and grey....

chrisc

No i dont Chris,  those onions have been grown from pip which is the best you can get to grow big onions. I am not into growing onions that wiegh in with double figures (10lb upwards) i just want three matching for the show bench.
Trust me whn i say you don,t know what you are letting yourself in for when you start growing onions under light .
I have a instruction pamplet by the world record holder, i sent a copy to Tonybloke ( he hasnt spoke to me since reading it LOL) i read it and said stuff that.

Plant 'em early. ;D

I've given up on big 'uns !!   ;)

6 perfect 3 pounders will do me. ;D

I am following these posts as I would like to grow onions from seed for the first time.  So thanks for all the info..
      1) Sow seeds in tray.
      2)Pot on like annual flowers.
      3)Plant out.  Any advice on this please.  Soil.  Time.  Weather .  How deep.???

Quote from: tomatoada on December 21, 2009, 12:52:03
I am following these posts as I would like to grow onions from seed for the first time.  So thanks for all the info..
      1) Sow seeds in tray.
      2)Pot on like annual flowers.
      3)Plant out.  Any advice on this please.  Soil.  Time.  Weather .  How deep.???

I'd use modules, not a plain tray, one seed per module for the biggest ones, three seeds per for decent (if not exhibition grade shape) medium size onions. seeds should be dusted over with a thin layer (3-4mm or so) of fine compost or you can chit the seeds on damp kitchen towel and put them in 3-4mm deep into their modules.....
Pot on when the roots start showing properly  at the bottom of the module into a rather bigger pot or less dense module .
I'd be looking to harden off and plant out for early March as long as the weather isn't too ghastly at the time (if we get a mild week in march then then otherwise leave until April)
Massive onions get grown in polytunnels, I just like growing the big ones in the flat....

chrisc

Thanks for that Chris, I might try growing onions from seed this year, i always thought it was too complicated which was why i always purchased onion sets