Growing onion from seed

[GardenFan]

I am having a bash at growing giant oinons from seed (B&Q folks). I sowed this in January indoors and its now living in my greenhouse. I have never grown it from seed before so I am unsure what to expect. At the moment its growing a little like chieves and keeps spouting green shoots from the base. As they die more grow, I guess this is normal? Any tips on growing these from seed, whats normal in the growth time, whats not, any tips to aid growth?

[nick the grief]

Hi Andy, Geordie will tell you more than me as he grows bigun's I believe. The leave's shouldnt die off, or at least mine don't - are they drying out I wonder.

Also I would think that you'll need to keep them moving re pots. If you've got them in 24 cells I would move them up to 15's or if you've got enough 3.5" pots. You don't want tehm becoming pot bound then it's down to the "secret" formula's & feeds that these folks use.

I think the biggest boon is the ground preparation in the Autumn. I know Robinson (as in Mammoth Onions) advocate digging in barrowloads of pea & bean Haulms & farm yard muck (FYM) mine don't get that good a treatment I'm afraid.

Try looking ar Medwyn williams site, http://www.medwynsofanglesey.co.uk/ or Robinons http://www.exhibition-seed.info/cultivation.htm

[GardenFan]

Thanks Nick

They are currently growing in 6" pots but looking at the info on those sites it looks like I am going to have to think about final resting places for them. I am actually going to grow one or two in a huge plastic pot (about 40") rather than direct in teh ground. What's best for compost, drainage mediums. Am I best moving to a larger pot than 6" and repotting up to the big daddy?

BTW, congrats to Nick for making this months GYO on page 6

[nick the grief]

Bugger I didn't think you'd spot me as I've changed the Avtar You can grow them in something like a black florist bucket (about 9") so if you've got a 40" pot I would have thought you's get mor than 2 in more like 5 . As to compost, I would go fo something like a John Innes No3. that should keep them going for a while then you'd have to feed them after about 5 or 6 weeks.

When you say Giaont Onions do you mean the 5 or 6 lb size that they show or are you trying to beat the current 16lb record ( I think it's more than that now), cos if your going for one that big you'll not do it without a lot of planning.

The guy who broke the world record grew it in a polytunnel that had heating & lighting & sowed the seed in the October so it had been growing for 12 months non stop He also had developed his own strain of onion that was naturally heavy growing ( I thinkt the seeds are £1 each if you fancy having a go !)

Hope it helps

[GardenFan]

The 5 to 6 lb kind that you mention Nick. That said if I can get a bigger size that would be good. On my first attempt the whole thing could fail but you have to try these things

[nick the grief]

I should be very careful Andy, you start of with the odd onion & before you know it your doing your 10 chelsea stand - Ask Mr Williams Seriously, it can get quite infectious growing for show.

I've never had the urge to do that, I'm happy with the Chrysanths & Dahlia's but there are a few things thst I enjoy growing well - Leeks & Onions. I've never had a go at growing Blanch leeks but I was given one & it lasted my Wife & I for about 3 days, it was about 2ft long the blanch and it was so sweet it was unbeleivable. I have been tempted but managed to resist up to now.