Onion fertiliser confusion

[Gilberd]

Hello

My onion last year was very small, so I have been looking into what fertiliser I should be using but I am totally confused. Some people say to use a high nitrogen feed, others say a general fertiliser and others say a potash one? Which one is the best one for growing large onions?

Also, should I use the same fertiliser for garlic?

Thank you

[AlanP]

I grow my onions like the old lads did, same bed every year, well rotted compost for three years and then lime the forth year. I never feed or use fertiliser and It grows large onions both from seed and sets. Works for me, some people may disagree with using the same bed every year.

Alan

[Thelma Sanders]

Medwyn Williams recommends 8:8:15 and he knows a thing or to
Sundries/Fertilisers - LEEK AND ONION FERTILISER 6:8:15:+3 MAGNESIUM 5KG - Medwyns Prize Vegetable Seeds

So it's high potash that you need.

[Bigmallly]

This is the RHS recommendations:

"Choose an open, sunny site and well-drained soil. High humidity around the foliage and wet soils make the crop more prone to disease attack. Onions do not thrive on acid soils (below pH 6.5). Reduce acidity by applying lime in autumn and winter.

Onions have a limited root system therefore improving the soil with plentiful organic matter is invaluable. Apply two bucketfuls of well-rotted manure or other organic matter such as garden compost every square metre (yard). This will help add nutrients, improve the soil structure and hold moisture. Avoid using fresh manure.

Little fertiliser is required at planting, apply 35g per sq m (1oz per sq yd) of Growmore or twice as much organic fertiliser such as dried poultry manure pellets. If you cannot apply organic matter – use more fertiliser, up to twice as much if the soil is poor."

Personally I just mulch with grass cuttings as they are high in Nitrogen.

[Guest]

What variety of onions were you trying to grow? When did you plant? Did you regularly get rid of weeds?

If I was fussed about fertiliser I would follow TS medwyn suggestion.

[Gilberd]

I am trying to grow some by seed which are Mammoth and some by set which are Sturon.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I grow in containers. I check the PH level and lime if necessary. The compost is dead at the start of the year so I add grow more and pelleted onion fertiliser and then feed as necessary with tomorite high potash.

[Kristen]

some people may disagree with using the same bed every year.

There is a school of thought that "crop rotation" is better for not rotating ... Onion Rot takes years for the soil to recover, and a straight 3 or 4 year rotation won't be enough, so mono-cropping in the same bed means that, if you are unfortunate enough to get a disease like Onion Rot, you can then move the bed to virgin soil that definitely isn't infected.

Flip side is that crop rotation varies the demand for nutrients from year to year ... you obviously don't have a problem on that score!

Personally I just mulch with grass cuttings as they are high in Nitrogen.

Just a reminder to be careful with lawn clippings treated with selective weedkiller - in particular things like Verdone Extra which contain a persistent chemical which will still kill plants after the clippings are used as a mulch, and even if composted

[Bigmallly]

Good point Kristen, I only use my own clippings which have had no chemicals.

[starloc]

The more leaves an onion grows the more rings of onion, so give it nitrogen, they also need sulfur to get the strength of flavour,
I give them sulfate of ammonia as it gives both sulfur and nitrogen, I also dust the bulbs and soil between with sulfur to kill mold spores

[heirloomsquash]

nitrogen and low sulfur soil if you want big sweet onions.

[starloc]

I used the potato fertiliser from ebay that I bought seems to be working

, called spuds galore , actually sold in a bag marked as

YaraMila COMPLEX | Yara UK

Made also for use with onions it says on the website, I have used it this year and the plants look far more healthy than last year, in the same bed as last year, the shallots have started growing larger and already are much bigger than last years (same variety)

The onions are far taller, greener stems and some have bigger bulbs than hen harvested last year

I also dust them with sulfur to stop rot etc , and put sulfur into the soil....to give strong eye watering onions....., I think there is no point to an onion with no strength...stronger the better

I just hope they are all bigger than last years, last years had strength but no size to them

[Valleyman]

I spent a fair few years worrying about crop rotation and types of fertilizer, and ended up getting very confused far too often about what to feed and when.

I stick to a few very simple rules:
1) Balanced fertilizer most of the time.
2) High potash feed when toms, fruits, potatoes etc are actively producing crop.

I may not get the "perfect" yield, or satisfy the "perfect" veg expert, but I also enjoy don't spend all my time making custom mixes and feeding each crop individually. I plug in a water soluble feed into the hosepipe and spray away. All the stuff that loves potash is in pots and is fed via watering can.

My crop rotation rules:
1) If something gets a disease or doesn't like it's position, move it next year. Dig in BFNB before planting each year.
2) Alternate beans/peas, and brassicas (Nitrogen fixing vs nitrogen loving)