Are Autumn onions worth bothering with?

[Two_Sheds]

You've convinced me to give them a go ... there's an "offer" on Japanese autumn onions in the October GYO. There's nowt else growing over winter, so might as well give them a go. Will report back in 9 months or so!

[muckdiva]

Bought a pack of 90p sets from Wilko a few days ago. I've never tried them before, but plenty of room on the lottie so why not. It's interesting to read the range of opinions on them here.

[vegnut]

Hi, iv'e just been out and got my self some red onion sets called Electric. Gonna see how these babies perform over the winter.

[Snadger]

Hi, iv'e just been out and got my self some red onion sets called Electric. Gonna see how these babies perform over the winter.

You might get a SHOCK at how well they do!

[la cebolla grande]

I always use Senshyu Yellow - in fact I planted 150 sets at the weekend. I did try some red ones a couple of years ago - not Electric, can't remember the name, thought it was a 'Japanese' sounding name. Wasn't impressed, they never really got beyond the spring onion stage and a lot 'disappeared' during the winter. AT least with the Yellows, as well as loads of spring onions you get good decent onions in spring from any left over!

LCG

[Two_Sheds]

I wanted to try Radar autumn onions this year, had a look at Marshalls, but they seemed a bit dear (3.95 plus 3.75 P+P). I got some off eBay for a total of £4.63. Just hope they don't turn out to be crocuses!

[greenlung]

I grew onions for the first time this year - planted Japanese sets last autumn which did very well, producing some whopping onions in June, when everyone else seemed to be throwing their waterlogged maincrop away.
Just put some of those red 'electric' ones in and will try more Japanese sets this w/e.
It's good to get something growing now, with all this vegetative death around !

[veg4681]

I wanted to try Radar autumn onions this year, had a look at Marshalls, but they seemed a bit dear (3.95 plus 3.75 P+P). I got some off eBay for a total of £4.63. Just hope they don't turn out to be crocuses!

At the garden centres, most should be selling two types of onion sets: Electric (Red) and Shenshui (can't spell) placed alongside the bulbs. I thought 50 sets for £1.49 was a very reasoanble price so I bought the red one (my first time on onion). If they don't work, at least it isn't such a big loss.

[PAULW]

Just bought my ow onions today 70 shenshui, 70 radar and 70 electric total price £1.85 sold loose choose your own.

[veg4681]

Just bought my ow onions today 70 shenshui, 70 radar and 70 electric total price £1.85 sold loose choose your own.

That's a lot cheaper than mine, where would you get that for that price? Next time I would know better.

[nick nack]

Veg4681

Bought mine (shenshui) a couple of weeks ago from a local nursery, £1.49 per bag with approx 150 in each bag?

NN

[PAULW]

veg4681
We are still lucky enough to have a few places that sell onion sets and pea and bean seeds loose, last winter I was lucky enough to stumble upon a small nursery that sells about 40 differant types of potatoes loose, good quality for little money, sorry T&M thats where I am getting my spuds this year.

[Sue]

I'm trying to grow from seed this year, Bedfordshire Champion and one other one who's name I've forgotten. If it doesn't work then I still have time to go back to setts in the spring.
I've also got a lot of overwintering bunching onions on the go in various stages, the largest are like thin leeks at the moment. These are supposed to stand in the ground until required. Just as well as I haven't much of my this year's onion crop left, had 98 onions, about 20 left... So that means growing a lot more for storage next year.
Sue

[Snadger]

I'm trying to grow from seed this year, Bedfordshire Champion and one other one who's name I've forgotten. If it doesn't work then I still have time to go back to setts in the spring.
I've also got a lot of overwintering bunching onions on the go in various stages, the largest are like thin leeks at the moment. These are supposed to stand in the ground until required. Just as well as I haven't much of my this year's onion crop left, had 98 onions, about 20 left... So that means growing a lot more for storage next year.
Sue

I've often wondered whether the so-called Japanese onions are bred to withstand the winter temperatures, or whether, as you have done, any onion can be sown in the Autumn for a longer growing season??????

PS I have bunching onions as well but I find them extremely mild tasting and much prefer spring onions!

[Sue]

Snadger
I've remembered the other variety now, it was Keeper. The seed packets said to sow in September for overwintering, so I'm giving it a go.
Not tried the bunching onions before, besides being milder did you think them worth growing, ie better than nothing?
Sue