Poor onions

[Marb67]

I planted these onion sets (red and white) in a large, deep container with blood fish and bone and a little Vitax Q4 and a little chicken manure. I don't expect large onions because of the distance between the plants, but I did expect them much bigger than this, especially as they are in full sun and have a very deep area to root.

[ameno]

That looks about normal for that spacing, in a container of compost, to be honest. Especially as slugs seem to be eating the leaves, which doesn't help.
In those conditions, golf ball sized is about the best you can expect.

[Marb67]

That looks about normal for that spacing, in a container of compost, to be honest. Especially as slugs seem to be eating the leaves, which doesn't help.
In those conditions, golf ball sized is about the best you can expect.

Oh well, I got them very cheap from Home and bargain so anything bigger than the sets is a bonus. I have also been snipping off the green stems to put in salad as they have been hanging over the edge looking tatty. The slugs have taken their part too which is surprising as I thought onion would be too intense for them, especially as they don't like garlic.

[ameno]

Oh well, I got them very cheap from Home and bargain so anything bigger than the sets is a bonus. I have also been snipping off the green stems to put in salad as they have been hanging over the edge looking tatty. The slugs have taken their part too which is surprising as I thought onion would be too intense for them, especially as they don't like garlic.

I often find slugs eat the leaves on my onions, especially from the end of June onwards. They'll take leek seedlings, too. Although as you say, never garlic.

Also, you sadly can't really treat onions like a cut-and-come-again crop, as after the end of June they will not grow any more new leaves, so any you take will not be replaced. Onions are day length sensitive, and before the longest day will mostly just grow leaves, then after the longest day will switch to bulb swelling, using the leaves they have to fuel that bulb growth. So size, number and health of leaves of an onion plant are directly proportional to ultimate bulb size.

[mrsbusy]

I planted red onion sets which started to grow nicely then something came and nibbled all the green shoots off - they never grew anymore leaves - in the end I pulled them all up last week.- they all had good roots and the sets were firm but not much bigger so they'll go in the picalilly mix. So yes they do need their leaves to grow.

[Marb67]

I often find slugs eat the leaves on my onions, especially from the end of June onwards. They'll take leek seedlings, too. Although as you say, never garlic.

Also, you sadly can't really treat onions like a cut-and-come-again crop, as after the end of June they will not grow any more new leaves, so any you take will not be replaced. Onions are day length sensitive, and before the longest day will mostly just grow leaves, then after the longest day will switch to bulb swelling, using the leaves they have to fuel that bulb growth. So size, number and health of leaves of an onion plant are directly proportional to ultimate bulb size.

I didn't know that but do now Oh well, I'm not scuppered just yet as I have Welsh onions on the go and they always grow nice salad foliage. I tend not to harvest the bulbs as I keep it for the greens. Having said that I have pulled the odd one which is like a large spring onion.

[Marb67]

Well I'm gutted. Just pulled one up and it's still the same size as it was when I planted. They have been fed bfb and yet no, or at best hardly any growth. Why do I bother?

[Marb67]

And again sown Japenese onions red and white have done nothing. Fiage dying off before swelling and some onions are doubles. I have limited space to grow but fed the container with general veg fertiliser. Still have some in the seed trays so is it still worth planting them out just to get enough harvest for salad onions? And why has the foliage died when some of the onions under soil are still growing?

[ameno]

When did you sow them, and how long have they been in those trays?
They may well be dying off because they have been in there for too long and have exhausted their nutrient supply. I had something similar last year, when I forgot to plant out half a tray of spring onion seeds. The bulbs reached marble sized then the leaves died off. The bulbs resprouted in the autumn, and I decided to use them as onion sets for this year. They are actually doing quite well.

[Marb67]

All spring they have been there and the soil was old compost. Just wanted something for them to get their roots going. As usual, my lack of space has proved an issue and the local allotment is no longer taking people despite some neglected and abandoned plots.

I'll just pull them as small onions. Some of the ones in the container are oriental sown last Autumn on that plot I had. I then pulled them all at the beginning of this year and bought them into my garden. I have to say they hadn't grown at all on that plot when I pulled them.

[Containergardener]

Can you plant them into a tub or trough?

[ameno]

I'll just pull them as small onions. Some of the ones in the container are oriental sown last Autumn on that plot I had. I then pulled them all at the beginning of this year and bought them into my garden. I have to say they hadn't grown at all on that plot when I pulled them.

They wouldn't have done. Most stuff doesn't grow over the winter.
Overwintering onions are only ready at most 4 weeks earlier than normal onions, and that's because of the leaves and roots they were able to grow in the autumn, not because of any growing they got done in the winter.

[Jungle Jane]

Its a good job the leaves had a chance to grow in the autumn because snails ate most of mine in the spring. My onions are terrible some bolted & others had no leaves,if they did have leaves they probably would’ve bolted anyway lol . I’ve got three good onions out there still growing.

[Marb67]

Can you plant them into a tub or trough?

Yes I have done that with a bit of plant feed.