All things Allium - Leeks, onion, shallots etc

[Florence Fennel]

After reading some of this thread, I thought I'd like to try onions from seed and I bought a packet of Ailsa Craig today. However, having got home and read the back of the packet, it says not to sow until Jan/Feb, have I really got to wait that long? I can't be sure, but I thought Zazen sowed some recently, or was that spring onions?

[zazen999]

I've sown some that I am overwintering and will plant out in the spring...they are being overwintered in the greenhouse so shouldn't get frosted and bolt early.

[Florence Fennel]

Thanks Zazen, I think I'll give this a go, I am getting quite adventurous in my old age!

[nmayhew]

After reading some of this thread, I thought I'd like to try onions from seed and I bought a packet of Ailsa Craig today. However, having got home and read the back of the packet, it says not to sow until Jan/Feb, have I really got to wait that long? I can't be sure, but I thought Zazen sowed some recently, or was that spring onions?

having grown red baron from sets rather well past 2 years i tried both red and white from seed and, like you suggest, sowed Jan / Feb.

NOT ONE SINGLE THING GREW!!

needless to say i shall not be trying that again.

i am from the "if it works do it again next year, if it doesn't do something else" school of gardening, as you may tell!

[zazen999]

having grown red baron from sets rather well past 2 years i tried both red and white from seed and, like you suggest, sowed Jan / Feb.

NOT ONE SINGLE THING GREW!!

needless to say i shall not be trying that again.

i am from the "if it works do it again next year, if it doesn't do something else" school of gardening, as you may tell!

Tell us what you did and we'll try to see where it went wrong.....

[zazen999]

I've added a poll to see if Grapes want us to do this again this winter......I've voted yes but I would do, wouldn't I?????

[HeyWayne]

Not sure if this is the right place for this or not.

Earlier in the year I planted a load of what I think are Alliums (like a ball full of starbursts), and those that weren't eaten by Cyril Squirrel flowered eventually and looked pretty cool.

They've all now "gone over" and last night I thought I'd see if the little pods where the flowers once were contained seeds.

Low and behold they did/do, so I set about taking a few out. I've now got 40-50 "seeds" (little black ones).

Would I be right in thinking these can be planted and will become flowers like the biggun they came off of?

[zazen999]

Not sure if this is the right place for this or not.

Earlier in the year I planted a load of what I think are Alliums (like a ball full of starbursts), and those that weren't eaten by Cyril Squirrel flowered eventually and looked pretty cool.

They've all now "gone over" and last night I thought I'd see if the little pods where the flowers once were contained seeds.

Low and behold they did/do, so I set about taking a few out. I've now got 40-50 "seeds" (little black ones).

Would I be right in thinking these can be planted and will become flowers like the biggun they came off of?

Yes, it might take 2 years to flower but sown them now and get them started off asap.....good innit!!!!

[Glutton4...]

I've added a poll to see if Grapes want us to do this again this winter......I've voted yes but I would do, wouldn't I?????

Wow - 2 whole votes for yes - that's motion carried then!!! LOL

I haven't read much of this thread really, and have never grown an Onion in my life until this year, managed to get Spring/Salad from seed (can't remember what they were though, sorry ) and had a very good result. Also Red (Baron?) and White 'big' onions from sets, also with very good results, but again, nothing from seed. Garlics (Solent Wight and another) are looking promising too. Can't find my list of names, and I'm too knackered to walk up the garden to find my seed packets!

My only regret is I planted a small row of each instead of a whole bed! We're not vegetarians, even so, it's amazing how many onions we get through in a month. When can I start planting for next year, and what is the best to plant in a relatively sheltered (my Dad's) plot! Any advice gratefully received!

[zazen999]

G4 - you can put sets in around Sept/Oct time [you will see them for sale - then's the time to get them], or sow again when PW does his next allium thread [unless I beat him to it], or put sets in in the spring.

Usually the ones to go in in autumn are Japanese onions, senshu or radar I found very good last year.

[hawthorns]

im am going to sow senshyu yellow onion seed early next month. should i sow 1 seed per module and leave them until early spring and plant out.

[zazen999]

im am going to sow senshyu yellow onion seed early next month. should i sow 1 seed per module and leave them until early spring and plant out.

I sow a few per module - I find they seem to help each other stand up.....and then I split them when they just start to bulb up.

[hawthorns]

do u then pot on individually or plant out

[zazen999]

By spring they will be big enough to plant out individually....if they are kept in a cold frame or greenhouse over the winter.

[marathon]

I sow a few per module - I find they seem to help each other stand up.....and then I split them when they just start to bulb up.

I put a pinch of befordshire champion onion seeds in modules yesturday I wanted to know how long they can stay in the modules for, I'm assuming I would split and put in the onion bed end of March