Onion sets

[Jdosman]

I planted these out at the beginning of March. Leaves are about 8-10" high, just starting to yellow at the tips, but the bulbs are not swelling at all......can anyone tell me what's gone wrong?


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[buddy of maidstone]

Give them some bonemeal,I use the pelleted one just sprinkle them around the onions and gently work it into the soil and water in,the tips should perk up


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[Kirk]

Onions bulk up depending on the length of daylight hours.
Not sure what the "normal" is for the UK but suspect that they bulk up when the days start to get shorter, so you will have some time to go yet.

[Aberdeenplotter]

I planted these out at the beginning of March. Leaves are about 8-10" high, just starting to yellow at the tips, but the bulbs are not swelling at all......can anyone tell me what's gone wrong?


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Nothing has gone wrong except you are looking for a crop far too early. If you think they need a bit of a boost, give them a feed of liquid seaweed. I prepare my onion bed digging in loads of fym as onions are gross feeders. I also throw on approximately 4ozs granular fertiliser per squ yard before planting time working this well in to the top 4" or so and then give no further feed unless I think they need a kick start in which case I use the liquid seaweed drench.

[snakeshack]

Onions grow leaves until midsummer then the bulbs bulk up as the days start to shorten. The reason people sow so early under lights etc is that the more leaves an onion plant has before the midsummer cut off the larger the bulb will be. One leaf = one layer in the bulb. Therefore more leaves means bigger onions


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[Rocketron]

Onions grow leaves until midsummer then the bulbs bulk up as the days start to shorten. The reason people sow so early under lights etc is that the more leaves an onion plant has before the midsummer cut off the larger the bulb will be. One leaf = one layer in the bulb. Therefore more leaves means bigger onions


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I've often wondered why people start so early.
Obvious when someone explains.

[WeedItAndReap]

So what does this mean for onion sets planted in autumn? I was rather hoping for a crop in June or early July so I could free the space up. Only one or two looked like they were starting to produce globes - and it's May now!

[Two_Sheds]

Yes, the Japanese (autumn) onions should be ready in June/July. I don't know about your weather, but our spring has been very dry again, and onions do need water.

If we haven't had enough rain I give all the veg 10-20 litres of water per square metre. If you use a hosepipe, then 20 mins of hose is enough for the whole allotment, for a week.

[WeedItAndReap]

Thanks Two Sheds, that was going to be my next question. I'm never quite sure with onions/garlic when I should water copiously, and when I should stop. I'm pretty certain I read somewhere that you shouldn't water garlic too much in the final 4 weeks.