Onions from seeds or sets, what do you do and prefer?

[4390evans]

Im getting some sets this weekend but thinking of starting some from seed in Jan. Ive always been dubious to start them from seed, worrying that they might be harder to grow.

Do any of you grow from seed, if so have you got any advice or tips.

Thanks guys

[Penellype]

I much prefer sets - if my attempts at spring onions are anything to go by I would have the equivalent of chives by autumn if I tried growing from seed.

I always start my sets off in the spring due to lack of space at this time of year.

[sparrow100]

My first ever onions were grown from seed this year, with nary a problem. Am about to harvest onions which are the size of a large grapefruit. It was so easy I don't think I will bother with sets - with the added bonus that you can't import white rot with the seeds. My plot neighbour has white rot and I want to avoid it.

This is a good thread: http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...eed_69067.html

[sparrow100]

So there you have 2 diametrically opposed opinions! Ain't gardening great.

[Bex]

I'm going to attempt onions from seed in January for the first time after years of growing from sets. Just really to see if I can do it. I had white rot on my sets this year.

[WendyC]

I've grown both this year, including the same variety from sets and seeds. I grew Santero and Bedfordshire Champion from seed. Then I grew Santero from sets.
The Santero sets were ready before the seed grown but were of a similar size. I had one or two set grown bolt but no seed grown. The Bedfordshire Champion were quite a bit smaller with few big ones. No real difference with amount of white rot.
I reason I like to start seeds is it makes it feel like the growing season has started!

[Martin H]

The last couple of years I've grown T&M First Early overwintering onions from sets planted in the autumn and they've been good and mostly trouble-free. I did get some white rot this year, but most likely I inherited that in the soil from the previous grower on my plot.

This year I also grew maincrop onions from seed sown in modules in January. Variety "Globo" was great and trouble-free. I went through phases of thinking they would never amount to anything, but they ended up just fine. I also grew variety "Red Baron" in exactly the same way but these were hopeless. Go figure. No white rot on any of the seed-grown ones though.

For 2016 I'm trying some overwintering onions from seed ("Senshu Yellow"). Last time I tried this they all got the grey mould before I could plant them out, but fingers crossed. They have germinated nicely so I'm hopeful.

I'll definitely do "Globo" or similar from seed again next year too.

[sparrow100]

I've got Ailsa Craig, Long Red Florence shallot and I think Bedfordshire Champion ready for starting in January, and I quite like the look of Borretana di Parma from Seeds of Italy.

[seasprout]

I sometimes do both... But my best ever onion crops have been from seed.
I did seed last autumn and had fantastic onions this year, so I'm doing red onions from seed soon for next year.

It's actually quite easy, I do mine in 24 segment cell trays.

[Bex]

I sometimes do both... But my best ever onion crops have been from seed.
I did seed last autumn and had fantastic onions this year, so I'm doing red onions from seed soon for next year.

It's actually quite easy, I do mine in 24 segment cell trays.

Seeds in autumn? Can they be sown soon then?

[Bigmallly]

All my Autumn sets are in plus I've also sowed a tray of Senshyu seeds (for the first time) which have just started to germinate so we will see how they fair against the sets.

[vixylix]

I used sets this year with varied results. I'm going to try all seed next year!

[meteor]

I usually do both, I have radar onion sets which will planted next week and 2 trays of Japanese Senshyu seedlings which should be ready by month's end for planting and overwintering. In January/February I get my onion seeds on the go in modules; Robinson mammoth, Kelsae , Red Baron and Bedfordshire Champion. Later in the spring depending on the weather Sturon and/or Stutgarter sets. I do find especially with the overwinter types that the seed sown ones do not bolt and |I usually have bigger bulbs from both crops but that may be down to the varieties. Lucky I had a good harvest from my overwintered crop as I was unable to plant any main crop and just used the seedlings as spring onions in salads.

[Alison]

Seeds in autumn? Can they be sown soon then?

I sow the over wintering type in August, hopefully will be potting on in a day or two.

[4390evans]

Ive started red barron from set for the past two year and both have been pathetic, they always bolt and are tiny, I dont think Im going to sow them again..

Do you guys put anything in your soil before planting or during?
This year I added chicken manure to my white onions and they were ok..