Onion recommendations

[Matt.]

Hi All - I'm after recommendations on summer onion varieties. Ideally I'll grow from seed starting late Dec in a greenhouse. This year I grew sets of Stouron and Red Barron but neither faired very well and only grew to golf ball size. Idelaly I want varieties that grow larger. The two I'm considering (from T&M but open to other suppliers) are:

Bedfordshire Champion
Buntons showstopper

What others (from seed) are recommended?
Also how susceptible to weeds are onions and how do different varities fair? Must they be kept weed free in order to thrive or can they hold their own?
Thanks.

[Capsid]

Stuttgarter giant is often recommended. I didn't make a note of the variety I grew this year (sorry) but I grow sets that I buy from Wilko's and don't worry too much about the type. To get fat bulbs dig in plenty of compost beforehand to help retain water moisture which will then promote the bulbs to swell. I also give a liberal sprinkling of chicken pellets when I plant them.

I would keep them weed free if possible. If you plant them wide enough to get your hoe between then weeding is not too much of a chore.

[bluemoon]

I always used to grow Stuttgarter Giant then one year I couldn't get it and had to change. I've used 'Centurion' from sets for the last two years and they've been great. I've tried Sturon and Red Baron in the past and without exception they've always been poor so it was probably less to do with the fact that they were from sets and more to do with the variety. Ailsa Craig is a good, reliable variety to grow from seed and in a good year it can grow huge. Bedfordshire Champion and Bunton's Showstopper are exhibition onions so will become massive. If a gianormous bulb is what you're actually after then try Robinsons who sell the 'Mammoth' exhibition onion, which reaches 2lb without trying and tastes good too. I have a secret yearning to grow an onion so big that I can have a barbie for the extended family and only need one so I usually plant a few 'Mammoths', the best I've ever managed was 4lb12oz, though I believe that this particular variety is the one favoured by exhibitors and frequently gets much bigger with proper care

[lynda66]

i've got bedfordshire champion in the garden planted in june and quite weedy looking things ..... out of a full pack only 5 germinated. in august i planted ailsa craig and now have a metre square bed bursting to the seams with onions, which are much bigger than the others, and definitely stood up to the frost the other week better. ........ and the weather was much better in june........ oh and as they are very close together i haven't bothered separating them, will do that when they get bigger, so they seem to have outgrown the weeds.

[Snadger]

For the past 3 or 4 years I've grown Hungarian Ham Onions (so called because they are supposed to resemble the shape of a ham shank!)

I've been growing a white form and a really delicious red form!

They have a wonderful distinctive taste (make supurb onion gravy) more reminisent of a shallot!

Problem is..........the online shop I precured the seed from appears to have gone bankrupt so I may have to try and seed a few of my stored ones for next year! Means i'll miss a year of growing them but supposedly absense makes the heart grow fonder!

[Two_Sheds]

Stuttgarter was the biggest for me this year (out of Sturon, Red Baron, Turbo and some others).

Your soil needs to be good - they won't grow big in poor soil.

[Matt.]

Thanks all for the input! I'm not particularly aiming for giant onions I'm more hedging my bets that a big variety will grow medium if conditions are imperfect.

I'll definietely add Stuttgarter giant to my list and probably Ailsa Craig. I'm not bothered necessarily about seeds over sets but I'm happy to try seeds.

I've searched fro Ham onions but so far got nothing. I found a few old links on ebay so maybe thats the place to keep looking. If I find them I'll let you know.

[Paulottie]

What are you on about Lynda

Matt, re varieties, I guess Ailsa craig is a good all rounder,

But growing conditions are the most important thing. To grow good onions they must be kept weed free, The bed preferably double dug the previous year and full of organic matter. I sow in modules in the glasshouse Jan and set out in March with fleece over hoops, I find that this helps with fly which seed grown are more susceptable to. If you want kitchen onions4"-6" apart in double staggered rows or for bigger onions try more generous spacings

[Birdie Wife]

I grew Sweet Spanish Yellow the year before last and if you like a big, mild onion then I'd recommend this one. I haven't tried the others as I've only been growing for a short time in comparison to some here but that one did well for me!

[Skotch]

I would definitely second the Ailsa Craig onion - a large show quality bulb and an excellent flavour and keeper. Stuttgarter is also very good

Skotch