onions no chance ?

[captainhastings]

Should I just yank these out ? I need the space to be honest they are no bigger than when planted compared to others who have nice lush green ones that you can see are moving. I have two plots and two onions patches and the other is slightly better but not by much. My friend thinks my plot has had little manure over the last 30 years or more so my soil is lacking ?

[jacob]

Are they from sets? If so, you've got 10 days until they've finished, so I'd just leave them.

They do look a bit hungry though.

[captainhastings]

Are you referring to the longest day ? and its too late to feed I guess. Looks like I needs loads of manure and compost in over winter

[fishpond]

Use as spring onions.
Loads of muck, ready for next year.
I personally wouldn't plant anything else in there unless it was green manure, then you can turn it in at the same time as the muck.

[Sharpy]

Is there any rot around the roots at all or any other tell tale signs of disease ?. When did you put them in ?. Mine went in 20th October, from 150 sets pulled about half of that. The biggest, tennis ball size down to nothing much bigger than a spring onion. I`v put it down to the dry weather and my plot being on a bit of a slope. Because i added all sorts last autumn, maybe just one of those years.

[Martin H]

Captain, when did you plant them? I'm guessing they are spring-planted sets. If you planted them in late April they've had one of the coldest Mays on record to struggle through and I'm not surprised they are unhappy. If so I'd persevere with them and see what they look like in August.

Round our way, most people's spring sets are looking much worse than usual. The least bad are those that took a chance and got them in early, making the most of our April sunshine.

If yours are overwintered ones then obviously they are rubbish and no good for anything.

Whatever, work out where next season's onions are going and concentrate on building up the soil fertility ready for them.

[captainhastings]

yes they went in late April and sets. Puzzle me though how every one else look good lol even the one right next to me but his went it later.
I had same results last year too.
I did give a good sprinkle of fish and bone when planted but obviously lacking some thing

[starloc]

I know people who are just planting sets....apparently they still grow!

Put some fertilliser on them and wait

[chefgage]

Like what has been said. I put mine out in middle march and they did not do much to start with. Some of them had plenty of growth after a month, others took a while longer. I would leave them for a bit longer as the weather seems to he getting alot warmer with over night temperatures being more favourable.

Jacob what did you mean by they have only 10 days until they are finished??

[Sharpy]

You could also add some Potash

[veggiechicken]

I planted some remaindered 50p sets out a week or so ago and they're bigger than yours already
Do you always plant them through membrane? Do they get enough water through those little holes? Doesn't look right to me

[Kirk]

I had a row that looked a bit bigger then yours, not a lot, and they have just been removed as I decided that something else would be more productive, or at least whatever I choose could not be less productive then the onions.

May try a few swede, turnips or carrots, but that will be a week or so when I managed to raise the height a bit more and likely acquire 2 or 3 bags of manure. Not sure what else I can try.

[Bigmallly]

It may be the pic but the soil looks bone dry. Thirsty maybe?

[Marcusp]

Don't add potash. Onions form rings from growth which is caused by nitrogen. The more rings the bigger the onion.
You shouldn't feed potash until the end of July when they stop growing. The potash then sweetens the onion but doesn't add growth

[Potstubsdustbins]

Personally I would give them a good dose of high nitrogen liquid feed something like miracle grow