Another Moon Trial

[SarzWix]

I may well join in, although I've never successfully grown onions from seed before

[zazen999]

YAY - you will this time, honest.

[lottie dolly]

this sounds like a plan zazen,i tryed some begining of year,and failed,so might just join in,and it has to be a NEW fresh,unopened packet ??,also when transplanting in the spring,how many of each days sowings do you plan to be planting out,

[zazen999]

Lottie, we are going to randomly plant out the lot one day in the Spring...and log this as well...for the results once they are all weighed.

[Incy]

I may try and give this a go although goodness knows my labelling skills leave much to be desired so maybe the discipline of having to label them will help me improve.
I'll have to see what September is looking like on the busy front though so will confirm closer to the date if that's ok.
It certainly sounds fun!

ps. Will have to warn OH off cooking them before they're weighed though. There's a real danger of that

[vikkib]

I'd love to have a go! I have to confess to being fairly cynical, in general, but I like a good blind test!

Having not grown onions before (other than my lovely little salad onions) can I ask a very silly question?!

How much space would I need to reserve for planting out the onions in the spring? Would we be planting out all 150 (if they all germinate) or just the healthiest looking one's?

[zazen999]

You could just do the 30 and pick the healthiest, or all 150. I will plant out every one that germinates, so as long as you pick the same amount from each day, it's really up to you. 4 inches is about right between each onion, so you could do a bed of 3x10 at a 4 inch spacing, which isn't alot of room, but if you want to plant out all 150, you're going to need a decent sized bed for those. Or, compromise and do the top 2 of each....

It all depends on the space and time and effort you've got, and at least it gives us something [else] to talk about during the long miserable winter

[vikkib]

You could just do the 30 and pick the healthiest, or all 150. I will plant out every one that germinates, so as long as you pick the same amount from each day, it's really up to you. 4 inches is about right between each onion, so you could do a bed of 3x10 at a 4 inch spacing, which isn't alot of room, but if you want to plant out all 150, you're going to need a decent sized bed for those. Or, compromise and do the top 2 of each....

It all depends on the space and time and effort you've got, and at least it gives us something [else] to talk about during the long miserable winter

Fab! I can definitely do the 3x10ft and might be able to do a bit more... will know nearer the time.

*gets excited and starts browsing ebay for a nice sounding variety*

[SarzWix]

Why sowing in September? All the seeds I've been looking at say to sow Jan/Feb, except exhibition ones that you can start in December.

[zazen999]

Because I'm overwintering them and want them to be ready as early as possible for next year.....anyone can do another trial another month of course.....but mine's in September

[King Carrot]

When would you expect to be harvesting and weighing the dried onions - would it be early summer or late summer as per maincrop?

If I decide to try this (and I just might) I'd like an idea so I can fit them in to the yearly growing plan

[zazen999]

The last ones would be coming out about now.....The ones that I sowed last september have been coming out over the last few weeks, with the final few this morning [as it happens]

They are usually ready about a couple of weeks behind sets put in during Sept/Oct.

[shirlthegirl43]

I bought the seeds for this trial today - from the Taste of Italy range - Cipolla / bulbing onion Ramata Di Milano. I also bought a packet of Hi Keeper F1 onion seed but there are not enough of these to do the trial quantities (didn't have time to search for another packet). Bought the seeds in Wyevale's 50p sale!! so it won't matter too much if they fail

I am really looking forward to taking part in this Andrea

[zazen999]

Lovely Shirl.....I'll be seeing you and Wayne in my office on Sept 1st then.

[annacruachan]

Can I do this in pots, Zazen? I've already sown Senshyu in a fishbox and will overwinter them in the greenhouse. It would be interesting to compare, though I don't remember when I sowed them of course!
I have a stack of soya milk cartons I can use as modules if you think that would be okay. They would be easy to label too.
Not a cynic, but an interested observer.