Clump of Nine Onion set spacer rethink

[no_akira]

This is an idea i've been mulling over for a few years. Optimal plant positioning ?



Its 20" x 12" inches, cut out the holes and poke through the holes with your pistol gripped bulb dibber.

The pattern is then repeated like a stencil moving forward.

Its sort of a hybrid idea, a mishmash of the Square & Triangle system but better...

It fits across a narrow 2.5 ft bed.

Notice the 6" Triangle method underneath as a point of reference

Also the big circles = bigger onion in the bag of sets, smaller circles mean the little runt ones.

(The idea must fit onto x3 A4 paper for printing out)

[Greenleaves]

Whats the benefit over planting in rows or blocks?

[no_akira]

The main advantage is you are giving preferential treatment to the larger onions that you've sorted from the bag and they get a sunnier positon.

The little runt ones act as a moisture trap wall.

Also means at the end of the season you get a varied selection of onions

Maybe...

[Jay-ell]

When you say little runt onions are you referring to the onion sets? You do realise that the smaller sets are preferred to the large onion sets.

[Snadger]

I agree with Jay-ell on this one. I buy my onion sets loose and always pick out the smallest. The larger ones either split and you get two small misshaped onions or run to seed in my experience.

[no_akira]

That would explain my "gone to seed" onions but I can never remember if they were the chunky monkey onions or not.

But with this method i'd be able to identify the culprits.

Also the outer ring of larger onions could act as a sacrificial barrier to the vulnerable inner ring.

Also the outer ring may mature earlier so mean a two stage harvest

[4Shoes]

Is the aim to get maximum onions per bed? If so, would you not get the same benefit with a 100mm wooden batten marked out at 50mm intervals. Stagger planting on each side of board. Your going to hand weed anyway.

I tend to use a 2.4m x 150mm wide board ruled out in 50mm intervals. Just wide enough to step or kneel on if reach is an issue. Lie it along the 2 end markers for the row. or roll it over twice to get 1' / 300mm row spacing etc.

[no_akira]

Idea is to have a system that makes use of the size variation within a bag of onion sets.

Also to minimise sun shadow as efficiently as possible.

Im gonna experiment with this next year, weight / yield for either Square, Triangle or Nine clump systems.

[veggiechicken]

I'm sure you'll be back to tell us your results.
Personally, I bung 'em in wherever there's a space and don't overthink it - or even "think" it.

[Jungle Jane]

The diagram of nine clump planting looks just like staggered rows so it will work,as long as there’s sufficient space between each onion anything will work,even hexagon shaped

[no_akira]

Keenly observed JJ, a grid is a grid however many ways you look at it, suppose.

However were my little doodle differs is there is a staggered offset open band between each clump of nine. To allow more sun light onto the south facing outer shell.

[no_akira]

Built my mockup for testing out this season



Its for running your onions along a 22" narrow bed

Its made from 6mm regupol recycle rubber and a punch is used to create the holes.

Its in 3 pieces so that the template can be printed on x3 A4 bits of paper then each part is cable tied together.

[no_akira]

Onion set spacer In action



Then riddled a fine layer of well rotted compost to seal them in.

20mm smaller big hole was right for the smaller onions

25mm larger big hole was right for the larger onions

[fishpond]

IMHO A lot of faffing and overthinking for some onion sets?

[no_akira]

Update for 2020

Made mk1.2 onion set spacer today, slightly larger spaces between onion



Also only 8 holes (was 9 last year)



Super glued rubber section with a sprinkle of Bicarb of soda to "instant" set the glue.

This version can also be rolled up for easy storage

8 x 6 = 52 onions (5' x 2.5' feet)