Onion sets advice!

[SusieG]

Never grown onion sets before - they arrived yesterday. Wasn't expecting that many, (note to self, read description before buying ...) got 2x50

Do they go straight into the bed/grow bags or do they need potting up first?
Any further onion-advice most welcome

[Martin H]

I think they are best planted straight into the bed, as soon as the current cold snap has passed.

[Greenleaves]

I am with Martin, I plant all my extras close together and lift as salad onions.

[jonny the plant pot]

I'm opposite my sets are sat in the greenhouse.
Saying that I prefer them from seed got some in a raised bed and got some to put in .
I think effort outways sets any day

[SusieG]

Yes Jonny, not tried sets before and found growing from seed a bit hit'n miss!
Got to try these things - problem is I've not got much growing space outdoors at mo. Pots, tubs and bags are beckoning!

[21up]

I'm opposite my sets are sat in the greenhouse.
Saying that I prefer them from seed got some in a raised bed and got some to put in .
I think effort outways sets any day

i put all my seeds in in December and week by week they have got less and less i had 100+
i have about 8 or 9 left they just bent over at 4 inch and never got no bigger.
Good job i had 100 sets in trays ,just thought i would try seeds.

Dont seem to be my year ohh well

[Potstubsdustbins]

#6 Did you support them?

Susie, I have yet to receive my sets and they won't be going out till end of March anyway.

As to space, providing you look after them with water and feed you would be surprised as to how close you can plant them.

The red onions are mine the white were grown by a friend.

[Tripmeup]

Always straight into the ground for me..
Ordered mine today...
Winter ones doing well...

[Penellype]

I plant mine straight into the ground about 4 inches apart and cover them with fleece to stop the cat digging them up and the birds puling them out. I remove the fleece when there is about 2 inches of greenery otherwise it starts to get bent.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Great minds Pen......Great minds and all that

[Muddy_Boots]

I've only grown the sets up to now, and waiting for mine to be delivered this year. I plant em straight in the ground and have always had success, growing a few from seed this year called Exhibition which are supposed to be the large show variety.

Talking of which in my first year on the plot I entered an onion growing competition and the village where its held annually is very passionate about it as they have an Onion Growing Association. They provide the plants and there are 2 categories, the heaviest onion and the 3 best dressed. I entered thinking I would get nowhere, didn't get anywhere near the heaviest but came first in the 3 best dressed. Was gobsmacked when it was announced and being an outsider didn't go down very well with some of the older growers.

[SusieG]

#7 Pots! I'm inspired by your photos, what fantastic looking onions, they're huge. And grown in pots. Well that's it then, none of my sets will go to waste, I'm going to plant every last one of them - somewhere!!!

[21up]

#6 Did you support them?

Susie, I have yet to receive my sets and they won't be going out till end of March anyway.

As to space, providing you look after them with water and feed you would be surprised as to how close you can plant them.

The red onions are mine the white were grown by a friend.

Hi POTS yes i supported them just first time i have tried seeds (may get it right next time)
Them of yours look super well done with spacing it obviously works

[Potstubsdustbins]

^^^^^^^The best advice I can give is follow the advice given by AP on the 'onions from seed' thread.

I asked for advice to help me complete an onion growing challenge, being a novice I followed it to the letter and got these. Best one was well over 3lbs.