Onion Sets Vs Onion Seeds

[veg4681]

If it wasn't for onion sets, I would have never bothered growing onions but I'm a little puzzled why some people choose to grow from seeds as opposed to sets (except for those who have lottie with all the space). Also onions seeds don't keep well so the cost advantage doesn't weigh up, surely?

[shirlthegirl43]

I tried sets and got no joy so this year I thought I would try seeds as well. I like experimenting. Also, they are something you can plant at the time of year when you can't wait to get stuff growing

[crichmond]

I used sets last year and had a good crop but only got about 5 onions left now from the crop.
This year I am going to use sets again but I am also going to grow from seed some mamoth onions.

Cheers Chris

[carlseawolf]

Iv'e used seed for the last two years because it gives me something to plant in december and when it's more of a challange than sets.

[sewer rat]

I used to grow onions from seed when I only had my garedn and my family to feed, but now for sheer ease and because of quantity I use sets.
I can however understand why people prefer to grow from seed - there is a bigger selection of varieties for a start, and as has been mentioned, they are sown at a time of year when not much else is going on, so they have an interest factor.

[pigletwillie]

If I could, all of my onions would be grown from sets and the majority of my onion crop is grown that way. However, only a few varieties such as sturon, setton, rjingsburger and red baron are available as sets, so if for example you wanted to grow mammoth improved or ailsa craig, then its from seed.

Lumping shallots in with onions, you can only grow banana shallots from seed as the bulbs dont split like traditional shallots, so again, its seed.

Some other "specials" like the rose de roscoff I harvested seed from last year, well you cant even buy the seed let alone sets.

[smallblueplanet]

Onion sets are easy and cheapish. Onion seeds are easy and cheap with lots of variety.

Hoping to try some 'fabled' rose de roscoff seeds very soon, the onions were originally sold in the UK by the famous 'Onion Johnnies' (avec bicyclettes & berets)!

[starwatcher]

I have only grown from sets with quite good results, but having read this and realized it's somthing to plant in december I will be giving the seed a try at the end of year given my excitement to get at the seed packets last month

[grasser]

hi thanks for that if i knew how to start a new thread i would if anyone can help me id be very gratefull thanks

[grasser]

ive been watching you lot for quite a while now im new to this gardening lark but am very interested willing to learn from you lot you seem realy nice and helpful people id like to know how to start a new thread ive got a few things to ask you thanks

[smallblueplanet]

hi thanks for that if i knew how to start a new thread i would if anyone can help me id be very gratefull thanks

Go to the 'front page' of a forum, eg 'Vegging Out', on the left hand side near the top is a button marked 'New Thread'.

[grasser]

thanks sbp will try it

[Flummery]

Piglet - you HAVE lost weight (new avatar!) My January weight loss programme included putting some on first so I'm only 1.5lb less than the Christmas blow-out. Must try harder!

Back on thread - I grow some small pickling onions from seed (purplette - quite nice colour too) but only have small space so have usually grown from sets to avoid having too much in modules at one time. When the allotment fairy waves her wand though -- watch this space!

[veg4681]

Thanks for all your replies. I can now see that growing from seeds does offer more varieties and it's a good opportunity to sow in December when nothing else is 'happening'. I noticed some of these onions comes with 300 odd seeds in a packet but if I'm only able to sow 100 a year, do they keep long enough for the next 1-2 more years? Or do you only use fresh packet each year?

I wonder if anybody's tried growig white skin onions (or albino ones). I think I might be sowing some wild onion seeds that you buy as Indian spices from Asian stores just to see what turns up .

[Snadger]

Piglet - you HAVE lost weight (new avatar!).................................

And had sex change by the look of it!