Onions - Overwintering type.

[Kirk]

While checking the remains of what overwintering onion seed I might have, I looked up the other options. Most of the information said: Sow in August.

This caused minor panic in brain cell one when it realised it is August.
The other brain cell then asked: Sow outdoors or indoors?

Brain cell one now really was in a mess. Brain cell two then muttered the words if you sow indoors when do you transfer outdoors? Brain cell one now need extensive therapy.

Any experience?
Do I sow outdoors now, or do an indoor sowing then transfer out and if so when?

[Bigmallly]

Here's a snippet I found Kirk:

Cloches are extremely useful for sowing your Autumn and Winter onion seed where overwintering is normally difficult due to adverse weather. Most Autumn and Winter sowings sowings can be made in situ where your onion vegetable crop will eventually grow.

You can also use your cloche as a nursery bed. Sow your onion seeds more densely than you normally would to grow overwinter ready for transplantation to their final growing position in spring. This is a useful method if you are short of growing space or cloches on your vegetable patch.

Either way sow the seeds in an area that can be covered by a Garden Cloche. There is no need to cloche these sowings until October onwards but be guided by your local weather conditions and seed packet instructions.

Cloches will protect your newly planted sets and will not collapse under heavy snow, perfect for our Autumn and Winter vegetables.

[Tripmeup]

Hi Kirk...
I sow F1 Hi-ball seed (available from Dobies) each August....
Just throw the seed into modules, leave to germinate outside and then transplant into the ground around end October....They will establish themselves in the ground during Nov, early Dec and then do little until the Spring when they take off....
Nice onion too I find...

[Martin H]

I'm going to try these from seed for the first time this year.

I would normally be tempted to sow in modules, but because I'll be off abroad for a couple of weeks in September it's too risky to leave them to their own devices. So I'll be sowing in a seedbed at the allotment this weekend with the plan of transplanting them in the autumn (back end of October, say) to their proper spacing.

Good plan? Or doomed to failure?

[Snadger]

Tried seed one year with very poor results.................went back to sets the following year.

[Ananke]

I had great success with overwintering onions this year. Sowed them in a tray in August and planted out Oct/Nov.

Best crop of onions i've had, just wish i'd sown more.

[Shadylane]

I usually sow Red Baron in July, not sown em yet though. I'll pop em in today if all goes to plan. They've survived really cold winters too, even though they're not an overwintering type. Some usually bolt but they get made into chutney. I grow them in modules with a bit of fish blood and bone to keep em going then plant out, when I get around to it. Usually September I think.

[Kirk]

Trouble is I have had no success with seeds or sets.
Tried seeds and I think the seeds went in too late and got hammered by a bad spell when I tried them so planting earlier (now) seems good as they could get off to a better start and size. My iodea od an Autumn sowing often means November.

Really as far as sets are concerned I would be better to keep the money, visit Tesco and buy onions. Really have been disappointing. I could then use the space on something that might grow.

May sow enough for 2 rows in peat pots indoors then move outside when they get a couple of inches. Would allow me a little more time for ground preparation, and means they get germinating now.

Just got to locate the seed now, it was here somewhere.

[horticultural_hobbit]

I'm going to try and sow some seeds in my classroom, by way of experiment. Once I go back....

[Martin H]

According to the Real Seeds website, the best date to sow is August 18th. Too early and they bolt, too late and they are too small to come through the winter well.

So I'm sowing mine this weekend!

[zazen999]

Yes I am sowing loads this coming week.

[Lazgaot]

I tried seeds this year and they're still in the ground bulbing up, whereas I've planted sets over the winter add they are usually up and drying by the end of July. So I'm going to plant sets again this year for the early crop and if theis years onions from seed are good I'll do more in modules in January to go out in Spring again.

[Vince G]

strange year I've had with me onions.

Method

Sowed Red Baron and Bedford Champions seed in modules in November. Looked nice and healthy so planted out in March/April when I put my Red Baron and Sturon sets in.

Results

Seeds - Red Baron didn't kick on and are still only the size of a plum now. Beds Champs a little bigger and a dozen or so massive ones.

Sets - Red Baron enormous, best ever, a few must be 6 or 7 inches across. Sturon, also OK and aprrox 5 inches diameter.

Conclusion

Seeds are a bit of a faff but got some huge white ones.

Think I'm sticking with spring planting sets next year though.

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

Was thinking of getting some white seed now to sow as soon as they are in my grubby mits and also do sets in spring of red and white.

Thanks Vince, you helped me decide.

I did sets this year, and whilst they performed, um, a little below par - onions is better than no onions. As you can guess, we have no mega onions here. I did put them in late though.