Onion & Shallot Watering Advice

[firefly]

Hi All,

I decided to water my onions & shallots today as the weather here was around 20c. So far I have only watered them once per week (usually at weekends) since they started green shooting.

My question is are they capable of growing well without the additional midweek watering during warm days like today or is this beneficial to water them regularly so that they grow larger/healthier?

I also have beets, carrots, parsnips, & tatties, all in the lottie along with my onions & shallots though none have sprouted any life yet - do any of these need additional watering too when faced with prolonged periods of warm/hot weather?

Thanks in advance,
Andrew

[jackie j]

You should water well so the roots go looking for water, a good soak every fourth day for established plants is all thats needed. Less and more often means the roots sit near the top.

[firefly]

Thank you jj.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Andrew,

When your spud tubers start to mature they will need watering on a regular basis. One of the main causes of poor crops of spuds is a lack of water.

Colin

[jackie j]

Andrew,

When your spud tubers start to mature they will need watering on a regular basis. One of the main causes of poor crops of spuds is a lack of water.

Colin

But like I said water well with a good soak and you only need to water every 4th day.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Sorry Jackie,

Not if you grow in dustbins lol.

Colin

[Snadger]

I NEVER water onions. If they are grown in a good water retentive loam with lots of organic matter incorporated or have a heavy mulch applied after planting, they should be ok!

[Scarlet]

I NEVER water onions. If they are grown in a good water retentive loam with lots of organic matter incorporated or have a heavy mulch applied after planting, they should be ok!

Thats good news - I am on a metre so water very infrequently ...and its just soooo boring

[Two_Sheds]

I don't water (anything) in the ground either unless

- they are new transplants
- they are wilting

(pots are different, they need more frequent water)

here's an older one: http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ten_31793.html

[rana]

Once the stuff is established on the plot I do not water. In dry years the crop may suffer a little but it has to find any water by itself.

[BigShot]

The only onions I water are seeds and seedlings.

I think I may have given them a quick drink last year in a particularly dry spell.

Onions, garlic, shallots... I just put them in, neglect them (other than a bit of weeding to keep things reasonably clear) and pull them up when it is time.

No bother.

[Alison]

I don't water established plants either there really is no need if they're in the ground and you're just molly coddling them and encouraging shallow roots.

[LolaLou]

I've only watered one thing on my plot this year and that was my onions but purely because the ground they are in is cracking so badly already and exposing the bulbs to the elements - it was more to redeem the soil from its sorry dried out clay state than for the benefit of the onions! I too water when I plant things in, but apart from that, my plot is lucky to get a good soaking more than once a week or so in mid summer.

[firefly]

Thanks everyone for your helpful replies