Onions in 'tubs'

[Crundy]

Hi all,
I don't have a veg patch and so do all my growing in grow bags / tubs on the patio. I bought some veg planters:
Vegetable Planter (set of 3)
And someone has given me some onion sets. So question is, when should I plant them out? After the frost risk or do they need to go out as soon as possible? The onion set instructions said to plant out in spring but I keep hearing that onions should be planted in the winter.

[maytreefrannie]

I put some down on 21st December, in a bin (the garden was in a mess and totally sodden), they've come through the frost and the green tips are about 1inch in height now.

[gojiberry]

Onion seeds are planted in Jan but sets don't want to be planted till end March at earliest. Unless they are heat treated ones then they don't like a check in their growth as it can lead to bolting. They are frost tollerant but what you don't want is a nice warm spell which will really start the set growing followed by a cold spell.

Ian

[JamesA]

Ive been wondering about planting sets in containers too, sounds like its worth a go then! Oh and some nice bits on that web site, thanks Crundy

[rana]

I'd like to know how you get on with onions in tubs. In the past I have put 'spare' sets in large pots and troughs and they never perform remotely as well as those directly planted in the ground......

[Crundy]

OK, I'll wait until mid / end march before planting them out. I'm also going to try some bolthardy beetroot in one of the same containers. I'll let you know how I get on.

Presumably the sets will keep for a while? Should I leave them in the cold garage?

[maytreefrannie]

I'd like to know how you get on with onions in tubs. In the past I have put 'spare' sets in large pots and troughs and they never perform remotely as well as those directly planted in the ground......

I wonder if drainage is an issue there and would the pots benefit from being set up on a couple of bricks? I feel mine too do better in the ground, but someone suggested the above to me (about the drainage).

[Crundy]

Hmm, perhaps some gravel in the bottom of the tub?

[starloc]

you would be better mixing something with the compost such as perlite or gravel,

its been proved that puting stones, gravel or anything like that in the bottom of a pot to give better drainage does the exact opposite causing a perched water table and soaking of the pot, better to use a rapidly draining mix throughout the pot

[Crundy]

Didn't know that. Thanks for the tip.