Growing Onions

[haza1981]

I have a strange question.

Is it right that some onions grow like potatoes producing several other onions and other onions just grow in size?

If so how do you tell which is which?

[nuttyrockeress]

Shallotts kind of do that - they split off from one set into varying amounts - I have one that has split into 8

[haza1981]

What about other onions? do they just grow in size? Is it worth it since onions are quite cheap to buy.

[Capsid]

What about other onions? do they just grow in size? Is it worth it since onions are quite cheap to buy.

Onions just grow in size. It's not about cost, it's about taste! And the satisfaction of growing them yourself.

[jacob]

Sorry to invade the thread, but has anyone got pictures/description of what their seed grown red onions look like at the moment?

I'll start -- a blade of rye grass...

[SlugLobber]

Even if it's about cost, a set of 100 is far cheaper than buying 100 adult onions. It also gives us something to look at in depressing winters!

[Snadger]

I grow lots of different alliums to give lots of different flavours! Leeks and large show onions have a mild flavour. Florence long red onions have a distinctive flavour which makes lovely gravy. We all know the strong taste that garlic gives.Shallots have a distinctive taste and are the chefs choice, Silverskin onions are sweet and crunchy, chives added to potato mash or a salad seem to 'lift' it.
Then we have all the other miriad of white and red onions grown from seed or sets all of which have a taste of there own.

An onion is not just an onion!

[zazen999]

I have a strange question.

Is it right that some onions grow like potatoes producing several other onions and other onions just grow in size?

If so how do you tell which is which?

It's not strange at all.

There are many different types of onions.

Some propagate through seed, some will set bulbils on top of the flower stem. Some will actually grow sets at the top of the flower stem. Some will grow and multiply and form more onions on the surface. And some will multiply and form more onions under the soil.

The ones that multiply are called - multiplier onions. The ones that form sets on the top of the flower stem are called - topsetting onions. The ones that form more underground are called potato onions.

[zazen999]

Sorry to invade the thread, but has anyone got pictures/description of what their seed grown red onions look like at the moment?

I'll start -- a blade of rye grass...

Mine sown last spring have lasted through the winter and I'm waiting for the flowers to come, seeds to set so that I can collect them and grow them on.

Mine sown last autumn are now bulbing up and being picked.

Mine sown in December are thickening up - about 2mm width.

Mine sown after that are still rye grass stage.

[LolaLou]

First time sowing onions from seeds (why bother when you can buy sets is the response I got) and I've found it very rewarding. I planted out my little blades of grass at the allotment and nitrate chalked them (on advise from guru in trading shed) and have basically ignored them (I only worry otherwise!) and notices at the weekend that they are coming on great guns and some now have three blades of grass instead of two!! BUT I did yank one up by accident (my onion patch is bordered by couch grass and I mistook it for the latter in a moment of madness) and despite looking tiny on top, there was a good little bulb growing underground and a mass of roots, so I dug a hole and popped it back. I'm now very hopeful for my bed of 'grass' and proud to have nurtured them from seed

[jacob]

Thanks -- my sets are doing just fine. But this is my fourth attempt to grow onions from seed and my best results so far have been little bigger than marbles (though very tasty ones!). I'm going to keep trying until I can get them to work!

[Shadylane]

I'm not convinced mine are ever going to be bigger than marbles either. They are bulbing up but they're tiny bulbs. As for the spring onions - hm not convinced. They're white lisbon which I started last autumn. They don't look like spring onions at all. They have a small bulb but the stalks are quite short and not at all spring oniony. Is this normal or have I been sold an imposter?

[Two_Sheds]

Is it worth it since onions are quite cheap to buy.

... but not as cheap as onion seed 99p of seed will keep me in onions most of the year (I use a lot of onions).

No, you can't just plant a supermarket onion and expect it to produce more