Attempting giant onions for 2015

[ash25]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and this is my first post.

I'm attempting some giant onions for a couple of local shows in 2015. I've grown onions the last 2 years, but with no greenhouse and no grow chamber, so the largest I've managed is 2.25lb which measured around 14" circumference. So my target this year to hit 20". I now have a greenhouse, although it is slightly shaded its better than none. And I have built a small grow chamber in the spare bedroom from plywood and covered in kitchen foil to reflect the light.

Any ideas and advice would be muchly appreciated. My uncle always wins these competitions with huge onions so would like to give him a little competition.

If you would like to follow my blog and see pictures how its going so far its here...

https://greenfinger25.wordpress.com/

Look forward to hearing some feedback.

Ash

[WilliamD]

I only grow normal-sized onions but have definitely seen them benefit from one of those pre-planting fertilisers, specifically for onions and garlic - granule based and you mix it into the soil a week or two before planting your sets. The finished onions were certainly bigger than the previous year when I didn't use the fertiliser.

[Lisasbolt]

Hi, welcome

I really do not know of much, but i think to grow giant onions you really should have sown your seed by now. If you haven't, you better set aside some time. I have heard some plant on xmas day, but for giant earlier.

What type of seed do you have?

oh and good luck

[Guest]

Hi and welcome to the vine

Unfortunately, 2015 will be my first year for competition veg. (pot leek, pumpkin, long beetroot and carrot)

However, the following threads might help.

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ons_47096.html

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ons_35602.html

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...show_2755.html

good luck and don't forget to let us know how you get on

What variety are you growing btw?

[Lisasbolt]

oh, have a look at this guy, he does a lot of shows etc

this is his onion this year

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxTEyaXlVSY

[Aberdeenplotter]

For large exhibition onions which I think is what you want to grow as opposed to giant onions (world record is now over 18lbs) you are still in time to sow. I sowed my own this forenoon.

edit note.

After looking at your blog and seeing how far on your onions are and how well they are doing, methinks you are hiding your light under a bushel.

The acknowledged expert on giant onions is Peter Glazebrook and his growing methods are detailed in/on the following site

http://www.nvsuk.org.uk/images/user/...Glazebrook.pdf

[hamesy]

Check out Dans channel, allotmentdiary, on YouTube. He grows some fantastic onions.

[Aberdeenplotter]

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...eed_69067.html that thread is really worth reading.

[muddled]

Nothing to offer on the onion front I'm afraid but Hello, nice to meet you ;-)

[ash25]

Hi WilliamD, do you happen to know what the fertiliser is called? I have already dug in some horse manure a couple of months ago on other peoples advice. Would adding more things into it be of benefit or could I end up overdoing it?

Hi Lisasbolt, I already have sowed them, I think it was around the last week in November I set them off. Last year I set them off on Boxing day just on the window sill but come February a lot had wilted and the ones that survived were weak and not much root. Hence why this year I knocked together a little grow box which seems to have made an amazing difference so far.

Thanks for the links guys, some interesting stuff there, and some crazy big onions, if I even get to half them sizes I will be over the moon.

The variety I ordered online was Ailsae, which I am led to believe is the current world record strain? And I think it is that Peter Glazebrook guy who supplies them? Could be wrong so dont quote me on it lol.

They seem to be doing well so far, they are better than what they were like in March last year so as long as they dont die off and I can keep nurturing them hopefully will end up with a decent set. Got my first baby due in March though so it could all go tits up then haha.

Thanks for the links and advice so far though guys, much appreciated.

Ash

[WilliamD]

The onion fertiliser is here. It's a mix of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (NPK) like many other fertilisers but with the best balance of those three for onions. The pack says how much to apply so that you don't over or under do it. Hope it works for you :-)

EDIT: Sorry, I miread your post above re: overdoing it. I don't know for sure whether the fertiliser plus manure would be too strong a combination.

[Lisasbolt]

Sorry, i did not realise that you had sown your seeds quite a while back. My fault for not looking at your blog

They look great btw

[ash25]

Thanks Lisasbolt, gotta admit I'm well chuffed myself at how well they are doing lol.

New update on my blog with some pics from today if anyones interested.

https://greenfinger25.wordpress.com/

Cheers

Ash

[ash25]

Well the onions were starting to throw roots out of the bottom of the 4" pots so I potted a few of the best ones on over the weekend into deeper pots.

I'm hoping I haven't set the onions off too soon as I don't plan on putting them out in the greenhouse until April, so god knows how big they are gonna be by then :/ Just hope they don't bolt or start to swell too early before I can get them out into the proper light.

Some new pictures uploaded to my blog for anyone who wants a nosey...

https://greenfinger25.wordpress.com/

Anyone else got any pictures I can compare to who's doing giant onions this year?

[hamesy]

They are really flying along. How many do you have all together?