Should I feed my onions? If so what with?

[greenishfing]

I have grown onions, from sets, for a few years with generally good results. I can't remember the last time I had to buy an onion.

I have just weeded the onion bed today. I planted some in autumn which are looking great and the ones I planted a few weeks ago are coming along nicely.

My husband thinks I should be feeding them.

Should I? If so, what with?

[Jamesy_uk]

Well there's a couple of thoughts I have read before, Onions are said to put on leaf until the longest day and then bulk up the bulb after so a balanced fertiliser like BFB before and potash heavy afterwards for the bulb something like a potato feed.
I personally only feed them once about easter time and leave them to it.

[Potstubsdustbins]

AP really is the man to give you the heads up on this one.

I like to prepare my containers with a mix of growmore and pelleted onion fertiliser then after midsummer I give them tomorite for potash.

Potty

[Guykp57]

Hi what is BFB.? Sorry for being thick


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[Matt94]

Hi guykp57, BFB stands for blood, fish and bone fertiliser

[Guykp57]

Cheers Mate, should really have know that, have never used BFB on my allotment. Should really try it.


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[Matt94]

Yeh BFB's great stuff, I always make sure I've got some in

[chilli_grower]

I will be applying one lot of BFB, and then later in the year I will throw a load of old wood ash from the log burner around them.

[Aberdeenplotter]

AP really is the man to give you the heads up on this one.

Growing in the ground for the kitchen is a completely different kettle of fish from growing for exhibition.

However, for what it is worth, onions are gross feeders and for me, everything should go into the bed before planting time. I dig in loads of lovely well rotted cow dung(less weedy than horse) I then throw on a handful of growmore per squ yard. (I haven't yet worked out how to decimalise handfuls to apply to a squ metre). This gets worked in to the top 3-4 inches and my onions are planted in to that. They get no more feed throughout the season.

I'm not saying that is the best way to grow onions for the kitchen but it works for me. If using liquid feed or applying bfb works for you then go for it. Like everything else in the garden, there is no right way to the exclusion of others.

p.s. You won't hear me talking to them either

[Kristen]

I then throw on a handful of growmore per squ yard. (I haven't yet worked out how to decimalise handfuls to apply to a squ metre).

You'd need 20% extra for a sq.m. So either a heaped-handful, or a large hand to start with

[Aberdeenplotter]

You'd need 20% extra for a sq.m. So either a heaped-handful, or a large hand to start with

quandary innit

[greenishfing]

Thanks for all the advice. As I said at the beginning I've always been quite happy with my crop and they've always been acceptable, if varying, sizes. I've always planted them in well manured soil. My husband, however, seems to think that they could be better so I will give them a treat of BBF, as much as anything to shut him up. If they are better than usual I won't complain and I'm sure he will take the credit.

[Aberdeenplotter]

why don't you treat half and see how they compare with your normal growing method and then you will know for sure

[greenishfing]

why don't you treat half and see how they compare with your normal growing method and then you will know for sure

Great idea. Thanks. I have a feeling husband will be right (again)

[Richard Eldritch]

After hearing this I've emptied my Hotbin composter and dumped 150 litres of high grade muck with a few handfulls of BFB into my shallots future home. They go in in about a three weeks so plenty of time for it settle down.