heat treated onion sets - any good?

[chilli_grower]

Hi all,

Can anybody please confirm - Are heat treated onion sets definitely less prone to bolting?

I can buy a big bag on 'normal' onion sets from wilkinsons for £1 or so, or is it worth spending the extra to purchase heat treated?

cheers

[Aberdeenplotter]

Red Baron can be practically impossible to grow without bolting if using untreated sets. I have used treated red baron and although I still had a few bolted, I did at least get a crop. Now though, I grow them from seed and I know you can do that too

[Kirk]

Tried both and I do not get a lot of bolting from either, but I equally get small onions that are just not worth having. Decided this year to keep the money and buy at the supermarket.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I grow heated treated Red Baron or Red Fen and have had success with both. I have found over the years that Red Baron don't seem to mind being a little cramped either.

These are from a couple of years back.

[Tripmeup]

I have used heat treated sets for many years and find them excellent...

[chilli_grower]

Heat treated it is......

Especially as I specifically want to grow red baron.

AP - I will only be growing kelsaes again from seed this year, purely due to not having too much room for loads of onion seedlings everywhere!!!!!

[Kristen]

Heat treated it is......

I think it is worth it - the extra cost will safeguard you more in a "bad" year, where the plant is more stressed. Bit like insurance, some years you won't need it ... but unfortunately impossible to tell which ones!

[arpoet]

We get Treated from the lottie shop who buy in bulk and sell at £2 a kilo. This should get you at least 30+ lbs of onions in the autumn. When i had the lottie and lots of space we got well over 80lbs from a kilo of sets. Last year growing much closer in my home garden i still got 35lbs of good onions from a kilo of sets.
Onions in the shops are about 30p per lb so its a no brainer, if you have the space.

[chilli_grower]

Ok, next question, who buys heat treated onion sets online? And can anybody recommend a good supplier?

[Potstubsdustbins]

I use Marshalls and find their service worth the little extra you pay.