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.
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Originally posted by ameno View PostThat 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.Last edited by Marb67; 19-07-2023, 07:44 PM.
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Originally posted by Marb67 View PostOh 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.
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.
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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.
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Originally posted by ameno View Post
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.
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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?
Last edited by Marb67; 23-06-2024, 01:47 PM.
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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.
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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.
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Originally posted by Marb67 View PostI'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.
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.
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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.Location : Essex
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