Winter Onion sets & manure?

**Jillyreeves** · 16-10-2009, 09:08 AM

This should help :-)

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...bed_40245.html

**chriscross1966** · 16-10-2009, 10:02 AM

Originally posted by Palmers-patch View Post

Hi all,
I have bought some winter onion sets to put in (not tried this before). What is the best way to add nutrients to the soil before I do this? We recently were given several bags of well rotted horse manure that we were intending to dig into the whole patch but I'm assuming this wouldn't be a good idea where I am about to plant the onion sets?
Any advice appreciated...

Horse manure really doesn't ahve a lot of nutrients in it, it's used to improve soil structure.... the thing you want to avoid is a lot of nitrogenous fertilizer at the moment... so don't add BFB or chicken pellets now, horse manure is OK (dig it in well) and I'd suggest plenty of bonemeal, the phosphorous is good for the roots, which is what you want your autumn planting onions to grow .... then in march give them a big top-dressing of BFB or even just dried blood if you can get it and watch them shoot away.....

chrisc

**Palmers-patch** · 16-10-2009, 10:08 AM

Thanks for both replies - i'll get digging in the manure, add some bonemeal and get planting!

**Ooh thats how you do it** · 20-10-2009, 12:21 AM

Originally posted by chriscross1966 View Post

Horse manure really doesn't ahve a lot of nutrients in it, it's used to improve soil structure.... the thing you want to avoid is a lot of nitrogenous fertilizer at the moment... so don't add BFB or chicken pellets now, horse manure is OK (dig it in well) and I'd suggest plenty of bonemeal, the phosphorous is good for the roots, which is what you want your autumn planting onions to grow .... then in march give them a big top-dressing of BFB or even just dried blood if you can get it and watch them shoot away.....

chrisc

Sorry to be thick, but what is BFB?

**OllieMartin** · 20-10-2009, 12:27 AM

Blood, fish an bonemeal...i think

**krazy_krok** · 20-10-2009, 10:09 AM

The problem with manure is it'll hold moisture which in winter could make the onions rot, onions are not greedy feeders i give them a hand full of BFB per Sq metre and they grow fine

**chriscross1966** · 20-10-2009, 02:18 PM

Originally posted by krazy_krok View Post

The problem with manure is it'll hold moisture which in winter could make the onions rot, onions are not greedy feeders i give them a hand full of BFB per Sq metre and they grow fine

Yes.... but.... come the summer they'll need it (onions seem to want a lot of water as they bulk up) and there's no way to dig it in under a standing crop.... mulches are of less value to onions than to most plants as they want to grow on top of the soil.... Unless the site has a history of waterlogging (ni which case you'll have problems anyway) I'd be digging in the poo....

chrisc

**bubblewrap** · 20-10-2009, 05:03 PM

I have in the past riddled some manure and spread it on top of the bed after planting out & the onions have sprouted.(Top dressing?)
I have had some good results by doing this.

**Kayt** · 08-11-2009, 01:32 PM

Originally posted by Ooh thats how you do it View Post

Sorry to be thick, but what is BFB?

Glad you asked that, I've been trying to work it out too!

**Lazgaot** · 08-11-2009, 01:39 PM

Originally posted by Kayt View Post

Glad you asked that, I've been trying to work it out too!

Blood Fish and Bonemeal.

**gojiberry** · 08-11-2009, 05:09 PM

I use a sprinkling of chicken pellets when planting in late autumn, just enough to get the sets going before winter checks their growth. Then in spring I will give a dressing of BFB to get them going again. This year I am also going to mulch with leaf mold in spring to see if it helps in getting larger onions.

Ian

**Edwardo82** · 09-11-2009, 12:45 PM

Thats interesting gojiberry, regarding the elaf mulch. I have two large hippo bags full of shrerred leafs. I also may try addign them to my onion bed.

We should compare results.

Thanks

Announcement

Winter Onion sets & manure?

Winter Onion sets & manure?

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Latest Topics

Recent Blog Posts