Autumn onion seeds - Radar

[smallblueplanet]

Help needed, we've never grown autumn planted onions before, so have lots of questions...

I had a quick google and the info about Radar is all about sets (is from seeds difficult?). We have seeds, when do they get sown, can they be started in modules like when we normally start 'ordinary' onions at Xmas time?

When are they planted out? Can we put them where the potatoes are (after we've dug them! )? Has anyone tried Radar? What's the difference with 'Japanese onions'?

If anyone can answer all those questions, thanks.

[PAULW]

I grew Radar this winter as a change from Red Baron, they were going well till the dratted mildew struck,
( Nice article about growing onions in the latest GYO mag come down here and try to grow onions if you think your hard enough, ) lovely happy healthy onions one day next day they look like they have been covered in soot.

[smallblueplanet]

Did you get to taste them at all Paul?

Did you grow them from seed?

[HeyWayne]

I think mine were Radar this year - almost every one of them bolted. Only taste I've had so far is in PW's red onion marmalade. Mine were from autumn planted sets.

I tried using seeds but got bored. The seeds I planted seemed to grow ok, I started them off in vending cups and they grew well enough. I think I ran out of space and patience though.

[T-lady]

Hi Manda

I've grown from seeds this year and they're pretty good. I grew four varieties and only "Bedfordshire Champion" did nothing (some b****dy champion!)

I sowed on New Year's Day and planted out sometime in April. I started them in seed trays and then planted them straight on - possibly should've potted them on into something with a deeper root run and thinned them out at that time.

I've grown Radar from sets last year and they were a nice enough onion. Frankly they're much of a muchness to me - either oniony or not!

Japanese onions are the ones that you plant out in late Autumn - so I guess they're different as you'll be planting out your Radar in Spring. Japanese onions are ready earlier (June ish) but don't keep so well. Spring planted onions harvest later but are the main crop for seeing you through til next Spring.

Hope this helps. I really enjoyed sowing something (anything!) on New Year's Day. It made me really feel as if the new gardening year had started - I hate that dead end of the year where you can't get out and do anything really creative!

[smallblueplanet]

Yep really enjoyed early sowing onion seeds - like you say, it definately feels like a new growing season has started!

But ah now you've confused me T-lady, cos Radar are shown (when googled) as autumn sown sets, so I wondered if you could grow them now from seed for overwintering?

[PAULW]

SBP
As T-Lady said onions are much of a muchness, tried them because they are supposed to be less likely to bolt than Red Baron but being a cold winter couldn't give you any details to whether they are better or not, grew them from sets yes radar are overwintering sets,I have grown overwintering jap onions from seed but missed the sowing date this year, I use seed for the summer onions but mainly sets for overwintering.

[smallblueplanet]

PW - I've got the pkt of Radar seeds in front of me and the 'pictogram' tells you to sow them Aug/Sept, there's no English sowing instructions though.

[PAULW]

SBP
Glad I talked to you I have a packet of Senshu--- that have to be sown in Aug so I will bang them in tried them a couple of years ago not a great hatching rate but the onions got were good.

[T-lady]

Got me on that one sbp ... I've not tried sowing Autumn seeds - thought they all had to be sown in Jan / Feb but maybe if sown in Sugust / Sept they have enough time to bulk up into little whips before the cold sets in?

[smallblueplanet]

Gonna give it a try T-lady, the ground will only be spare if not. Joy Larkcom says (talking about seeds) "short-day autumn-sown onions aka Japanese onions...sowing date critical, onions must be 15-20cm high by mid-autumn to survive winter conditions. If too far advanced there is a risk of bolting in spring". (But I suppose you can still eat them?)

Gonna try some late leeks too, hopefully they'll make baby leek size at worst.

[Demeter]

My onion seeds (Hi-Keeper and North Holland Bloodred Redmate) both say on the packet to sow in September. I was thinking to do 2 sowings, one in late Aug/early Sep and another in say mid Sep. That way I have the best chance of having at least some the right size to make it through the winter??

Slightly confused about all this as I have read earlier threads about "autumn" onions being sown in July or August and am feeling a bit like I might be leaving it too late and I should be out there sowing now!! Still, might as well give it a go, nothing to lose but a couple of quid's worth of seeds & compost

[Two_Sheds]

My onion seeds (Hi-Keeper and North Holland Bloodred Redmate) both say on the packet to sow in September.

So did mine from Nicky's*, and so do the T&M packets, but that was far too late in the year ... they were to small to survive the winter, even in the gh

I'll be sowing in August this year


* I just checked and Nicky's Senshyu now say to sow in August

[Snadger]

It took you three years to formulate this reply TS?

[4Shoes]

Reading one of my many mags - it has a to sow panel.... Onions - undercover.

Not knowing my onions and having read this thread, sounds like questionable advice.

Wee scurry round the tin-ter-net and Garden Focus date for me is February, but are there onions out there I can sow covered that are any good?