Garlic/onions - how to start them off?

[Capsid]

Last year on Gardener's World, Monty Don showed us how to grow gralic and onions by simpy putting the sets straight in the ground. This year he advised Jo Swift on his allotment to put them in modules first. Was the advice different because of the time of year? Last year he was autumn planting, this year it was for spring planting. It's possible that the planting out in a warmer autumn is alright but not so in a cold spring. Whatever, I've always planted straight into the soil and got good results, but perhaps it could be better?

This year I even planted my shallots when the ground was frozen with frost and they are coming through now (below).

[gojiberry]

It all depends first on what time you have and what expenses you want to incur. I have done a bit of both this year, the ones started in pots are doing well with about 4inch of growth, the ones planted straight into the ground haven't started to appear yet. However once they start they may well catch up. Would also depend on location and type of soil, heavy wet clay and I would start them all in pots.

[Capsid]

Thanks for reply Gojiberry. I have heavy clay soil, so next year I will do both and compare planting out with pots.

[zazen999]

I also do a mix; some in the ground, some in plugs and any spares go in pots and get planted out when I have space. I had a bag of red barons that were waiting to go straight into the lottie; but that is taking too long so they have been popped into plugs and pots for a few weeks to get them going.

[Capsid]

I also do a mix; some in the ground, some in plugs and any spares go in pots and get planted out when I have space. I had a bag of red barons that were waiting to go straight into the lottie; but that is taking too long so they have been popped into plugs and pots for a few weeks to get them going.

So, it seems you do this for convenience? Have you noticed which does better/gives better results?

[zazen999]

To be honest, I use so many onions that they never get to the stage of drying off for storage - they are eaten well before then. that's why I thought I would try sets in the first place.

My neighbour puts her sets out about now, well spaced out and left well alone until they dry off and hers look fab. I'm alot more higgledy piggeldy, never use rows, move stuff about so I'll let you know once we have the lottie up and running which means I will have space to leave them be!

Perhaps it's best asking someone less haphazard!

[Farmer_Gyles]

last year i put onion sets straight in the ground, but some "failed" - read stories on here of bird pulling onion sets so maybe that's why some didn't grow - or could have been foxed trampling them? who knows ...

this year, with the ground not prepared, i put all the onion sets in 2" pots in trays in the greenhouse - about 150 - about 7 or 8 didn't sprout - this also meant i could sow when i wanted to, even though it was pouring with rain outside (everything i'm growing this year is sown indoors or in greenhouse and planted out later)

the bigger onions were planted out a couple of weeks ago, smaller ones still in the greenhouse for planting out next time the sun shines

i planted my garlic in tubs of soil a couple of months ago - all growing nicely - i didn't know until a few weeks ago that i could have planted them in the autumn ....

[Jardiniere]

i was very interested in this bit of advice for Joe ....i didnt know you could start onions off like that!!!
Because it is taking so long to clear my land i've got a few onion sets left and have therefore put them in pots til i can dig some more....