Onion sets-Autumn or Spring ones?

[coreopsis]

After unsuccessfull attempt of growing onions from seeds I decided to go for sets next season.I know what i'm going to grow next year but when it comes to space I still don't know where to sow what.That's why I was going to get some spring planting onion sets but it looks like majority goes for autumn ones.Excuse my ignorance but are the results much different between them except possible later harvest?

[zazen999]

They fill the hungry gap - if I was limited for space and not addicted to onions - I'd grow overwinter and fill the gaps when I pull them with the spring planted summer veg.....

[rustylady]

I grow both, cos we use lots and lots of onions. Overwintering ones don't keep as well as the spring planted ones, but harvest earlier.

[Snadger]

I grow both, but if I could only grow only one lot it would have to be spring planted types

You are more assured of success with the spring planted type and they keep a lot better.

I look upon the spring planted as 'maincrop' onions and autumn planted as hungry gap onions , usually maturing a couple of weeks earlier but not storing very well!

[Two_Sheds]

Japanese (winter) onions don't store as well as spring planted ones, but they give you onions in June when your stores have run out and your spring planted ones aren't ready.

[coreopsis]

Cheers everybody,definitely spring ones for me then

[sarraceniac]

I grow both, cos we use lots and lots of onions. Overwintering ones don't keep as well as the spring planted ones, but harvest earlier.

We have never managed to keep them until their storage life's end in either case. So I grow loads of Radars because we just love the taste out of the usual season.

[bluemoon]

I'd always try and find room for both. We grow loads of onions and they're the one veg of which I never say to anyone; 'Do you want a few of these?'

[chriscross1966]

PUt them where next years courgettes are going... in a patch, maybe with a hole in... but come mid may start pulling out the onions in the mioddle adn plant the courgette in there... keep pulling onions as the courgette grows.....

chrisc

[piskieinboots]

that's a smashing idea CC

[Rocketron]

What do you all mean by "don't store very well", what's wrong ?

[Snadger]

What do you all mean by "don't store very well", what's wrong ?

They go soft and rot a lot quicker than spring grown onions or start putting out green sprouts!

[Jillyreeves]

PUt them where next years courgettes are going... in a patch, maybe with a hole in... but come mid may start pulling out the onions in the mioddle adn plant the courgette in there... keep pulling onions as the courgette grows.....

chrisc

Great idea Thanks for the tip

[coreopsis]

PUt them where next years courgettes are going... in a patch, maybe with a hole in... but come mid may start pulling out the onions in the mioddle adn plant the courgette in there... keep pulling onions as the courgette grows.....

chrisc

Don't tempt me!

Very good idea

[chriscross1966]

One day I'll do something about my spelling when I'm typing fast.....