Onion seeds

[JMCKG]

Fed up with onions sets bolting. Going to try from seed later this year. Any recommendations for autumn planting red onions?

[Martin H]

I can't help you with red onion seed. But I've found Augusta to be a very reliable overwintering variety of white onion from seed.

[Geordie]

I have used Electric, always turned out well by about June.

[bobbin]

I've decided I'm not growing red onions next year. This year they've bolted last year stunted growth.
I tried earlier in year to grow from seed but couldn't be doing with the messy tangle of seedling that resulted. They took ages to do anything as well so ditched them. . I have had a few good years of crop but we also get white rot on our lottie. Hate to say it but I'll buy them.
Well... maybe just one more go..

[greenishfing]

I have never had much luck with red onions. My white onions have always done far better (even when planted side by side). For Autumn planting of white ones I have grown Senshyu this year (from sets) and am very happy with them. Maybe 1 in 20 bolted despite the very dry and then very wet weather and the distinct lack of attention they got.. (On most of the other allotments I could see a lot of seed heads).

[Snadger]

I always plant the Japanese red onion sets in the autumn with good results,and sow some red torpedo onions in the spring. My Jap reds are just bulbing up now with very few bolters. I totally gave up on spring planted red onion sets as the majority always bolt for me, and from what I can see, everyone else.
You would think that with the number of years that spring planted red onion sets have been available the suppliers would have got it right by now.