Onion set recommendations?

[HotStuff]

Last Winter was my first time growing onions. I planted sets of 'Electric' red onions and they did really well. I'd like to grow a couple more varieties this year, one preferably a large white. Any recommendations?

[oldie]

Senshyu Japanese yellow are the original winter ones. Radar are also very good. Kings, D.T.Brown, Edwin Tucker and Marshall's sell them. I think Marshall's have an offer at the moment.

[Bramble_killer]

you can get 50 senshyu yellow for £2 at wilko's

[gojiberry]

Marshalls have red cross, troy and radar. Mr Fothergill have radar and red electric. I know as I accidentally ordered from both and ended up with 500 onion sets.

Ian

[HotStuff]

Wow! That's a few more than I need Goji. Thanks for the Wilko's tip Bramble and thanks to Oldie for the recommendations.

[Croila]

Last Winter was my first time growing onions. I planted sets of 'Electric' red onions and they did really well. I'd like to grow a couple more varieties this year, one preferably a large white. Any recommendations?

The most recent "Which" gardening magazine recommended "Troy" as apparently you can plant it in September, overwinter them in the ground, harvest them over spring and summer, and they keep fantastically well in storage over the following winter. I've just ordered some from Suttons, but if anyone else can recommend a good onion set supplier, I'd love to hear it - I've never grown onions before so I'm going for this one. Apparently Troy onions also grow well in cold climates, so they should be okay here in Edinburgh :-)

[LolaLou]

I use Tuckers Seeds for my onions/garlic sets. I grew Radar (yellow) and Electric (red) last year. My Electric completely outshone my Radars (although they were still ok), so much so that I've only ordered Electric this year for overwintering. I'm not desperately good at growing onions (only ever manage to get decent-to-small sized onions) so for once I'm sticking with what I know works (hopefully!).

[Croila]

Thanks LolaLou, Electric (funny name!!) sounds interesting - I've read of quite a few people liking this one.

[Two_Sheds]

I accidentally overwintered a Red Baron this year: just didn't dig it up. It came through all the snow and ice, and was superb.

So I've sown a tray of them to see if they'll all do it again

[nomis]

are there any really REALLY massive ones that can be planted in the next few weeks?

[SarzWix]

I would recommend both Red Cross and Electric, but for whites I'd go with Shakespeare if you can get them (T&M?). Had a few good good years with them, then tried Troy last year and they all failed in the harsh winter

[northepaul]

The onions I overwintered last year (to this year) didnt do so well, they were ok if we ate them up pretty much when we dug them. They also didnt really get that big.
However I planted some in the spring, white ones called snowball I think, were fantastic - huge and quite sweet, and kept much better infact I still have some now.

I am going to just do spring onion sets from now on.

[crazii_c]

when should you plant overwintering onions and garlic?

ive not tried them before and would like to give them a go this year?

[Snadger]

when should you plant overwintering onions and garlic?

ive not tried them before and would like to give them a go this year?

Its a bit of a balancing act and depends upon your location and what kind of autumn and spring weather we have.
Basically you don't want them putting on too much soft growth before winter sets in or else they could succumb!
I tend to plant a few each weekend from now until mid October as a 'belt and braces' approach to getting at least a few to reach maturity!

[Magiccat1978]

hi, Ok I'm a complete novice and I have never overwintered anything before but yesterday I was in Wilko's and I 'accidently' managed to pick up some autumn planting onion sets and a few Solient Wight garlic bulbs but I have no idea what to do with them Do I start the sets in large modules like I did with my spring planted ones or do you just sow direct, or a bit of both and what about the garlic ??? If some one could explain it in a kind if idiots guide type way I'd be ever so grateful I do have a greenhouse if that makes any difference. thanks