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i am planting some Electric winter Onions in my square foot garden for the first time but i am not happy about the spacing . I have looked on several web sites for spacing of onions in the square foot garden and i feel the spacing is not right 9 onions to the square i just can,t see how this will work as they need about 9 inches all round . So has anyone grown this onion in their square foot garden if so can you please tell me the spacing. Also as there is 30 onion sets in the bag i want to stagger the planting of this onion so would planting them every 3 weeks be ok
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Last edited by David1949; 19-09-2012, 09:06 PM.****A day without a smile is like a day without sunshine!**** -
9 to a square foot is just about right I think - I'd not bother staggering them, just bung them all in. They sit there all winter so 3 weeks will not make any difference at all.
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David
I don't know about staggering them with regard to planting, but onions can be planted a lot closer together than people think. This is how I grow mine and I get reasonable every year. As you can see the pot is about a foot diameter which is less than a square foot.
ColinLast edited by Potstubsdustbins; 19-09-2012, 09:16 PM.Potty by name Potty by nature.
By appointment of VeggieChicken Member of the Nutters club.
We hang petty thieves and appoint great ones to public office.
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Zaz your just to fast
PottyPotty by name Potty by nature.
By appointment of VeggieChicken Member of the Nutters club.
We hang petty thieves and appoint great ones to public office.
Aesop 620BC-560BC
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So i take it that you plant 9 to a square zaz999 a onion when it is fully grown is about 6 to 9 inches across so how do they get room to grow. Well i will give it a try i asked about staggering then because they say they don,t store wellOriginally posted by zazen999 View Post****A day without a smile is like a day without sunshine!****Comment
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I'm no expert on onions but the actual onion that grows won't be 6-9" across. The roots may spread out that much but they would mingle in with their neighbours roots.
If you wanted to stagger your plantings you could start some in modules under cover and plant others out in your square. As zaz says though, not much happens through the winter so its doubtful how much difference it would make overall.Comment
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OK Potstubsdustbins your photo explains a lot it looks like the onion as it grows it rises up from the soil this is my first plant with the S F G and i would like to get it right but as your pots are 12 inches i will plant the same number as you per squareOriginally posted by Potstubsdustbins View Post****A day without a smile is like a day without sunshine!****Comment
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OK veggiechicken i will plant them all at the same time and see what happens thank you all for your help againOriginally posted by veggiechicken View Post****A day without a smile is like a day without sunshine!****Comment
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David 6 to 9 inches across would be a show winner for sure. To get to that short of size you would normally grow from seed not sets.
AP will be along soon and he knows much more about growing onions for show.
ColinPotty by name Potty by nature.
By appointment of VeggieChicken Member of the Nutters club.
We hang petty thieves and appoint great ones to public office.
Aesop 620BC-560BC
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An onion when it is fully grown [from sets] is about 3-4 inches across. 6 if you are lucky.Originally posted by David1949 View Post
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I've honestly never seen an onion that big, not even in Aldi (Spanish onions)Originally posted by David1949 View Post
2-3" if they're mine, at best.Originally posted by zazen999 View Post
David, your onions won't store, that's true, but you can still stagger your eating of them. Start eating them as soon as they get to a decent size, you don't need to wait until they're all "ready". They don't all suddenly become ready in the same week anyway, not like sweetcornAll gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.Comment
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More or less as others have said....
In terms of storing tho, they will keep for a few months, once you let them dry out properly....
As these are overwintering ones, they should (in theory) be ready next June-ish, so you will be able to start picking and using them before the Spring planted ones (if u are doing these too) are ready, generally around August....I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives....
...utterly nutterly
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To be honest i tried square foot gardening with the onions this year, and they didn't do too we'll, as they were all squished in which i believe restricted their growth - but thats just my opinion
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Thank you all for taking the time to reply to my cry for help keep your suggestions coming i must say this i am realy impressed with this forum how helpful all you folk are.Last edited by David1949; 20-09-2012, 07:33 PM.****A day without a smile is like a day without sunshine!****Comment
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Here you are David, I can only echo what has already been said. This is just to show 9 in a SFG.
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