Are Autumn onions worth bothering with?

[Snadger]

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

I inherited the bunching onions on my allotment plot. I've tried eating them in a cheese sarnie, but I won't be trying them again, as I said , tasteless!
I'll still keep the plants but may move them to my herb bed as I haven't seen them flower yet and that could be there saving grace, I suppose!

[Two_Sheds]

I inherited the bunching onions on my allotment plot. I've tried eating them in a cheese sarnie, but I won't be trying them again, as I said , tasteless!

they weren't grass were they?

I'm still cutting chives for that oniony flavour in sarnies, salads, well everything

[Snadger]

they weren't grass were they?

I'm still cutting chives for that oniony flavour in sarnies, salads, well everything

Grass would have probably had more taste!

My chives are turning yellow now but I reckon if some were potted up and taken into the greenhouse they would throw up a bit of greenery for winter salads?.

[Two_Sheds]

yes, they're meant to. I have self-sown ones just coming up on lottie, lovely as the older ones are getting a bit tough

[Protea]

Tried overwintering variety Electric last Autumn, and was rather dissapointed. Most of them bolted before they had bulked enough to pull so i had rather a lot of onions to add to the compost heap.

My shallots fared a little better but many went to seed.

It was such a shame as i really wanted to keep some crops in the gound over winter - i'm going for a green manure this year (must remember to sow it!!!), not productive but stops the wind blow and will add organic matter in the spring.

I'm sticking to spring sown sets from now on - my lottie site is just too exposed and wet i think.

[pigletwillie]

My "radar" have been planted in a raised bed Protea to prevent the wrost of the wet causing issues as obviously it drains well. As onions are very cheap to buy, I was mainly concerned about having such a low value crop taking up valuable space in spring, just when I want to start getting the "cost a bomb" salads, beans etc into the ground.

[wellie]

piglet,
I honestly think that overwintering onions are a great asset to the kitchen at a time when the rest of your stores may be running dry. I hope you do have huge success with them, and good luck with your new raised beds. I shall look forward to seeing them around Bonfire Party time.

[Hazel at the Hill]

I'm putting in some japanese onion set (yellow something??) which I bought from the nice man on the Robinsons stand at Malvern - but when I said I'd not be able to plant them for 2 or 3 weeks he did that inward whistling thing that car mechanics do when they want to relieve you of a lot of money.

Well, the sets will have to take their chance and be planted nearer the end of the month - but my q is, would you keep them in the fridge till then, or are they ok knocking about in the back of the car, where they are currently?

[wellie]

Hazel,
Would it not be possible for Jane to plant them for you? The sooner they get into the ground now, the better they will get going for a quality crop next year. Leave them out of the ground, and you'll only be stressing/delaying them me thinks...?

[Snadger]

I'm putting in some japanese onion set (yellow something??) which I bought from the nice man on the Robinsons stand at Malvern - but when I said I'd not be able to plant them for 2 or 3 weeks he did that inward whistling thing that car mechanics do when they want to relieve you of a lot of money.

Well, the sets will have to take their chance and be planted nearer the end of the month - but my q is, would you keep them in the fridge till then, or are they ok knocking about in the back of the car, where they are currently?

Stood in a seedtray with a bit damp compost in it would be good!

[Hazel at the Hill]

That's what I like about the Vine - where else would you be able to ask a fairly obscure question last thing at night and wake up to not one but tow suggestions! Thank you both...

Leave them out of the ground, and you'll only be stressing/delaying them me thinks...?

That's what I'm worried about - I'd like to give them a good start!

Plot B which is next years roots/onions is still chock a block with squash and tomatoes which I was hoping to leave in for just a bit longer, then we can clear the whole bed for the onion and garlic - which will be a fairly sizable job for us.

Stood in a seedtray with a bit damp compost in it would be good!

Think this sounds like a better idea than my bung-em-in-the-fridge!

[Protea]

Or, even easier Hazel - plant them individually in module trays with compost and leave outside - they'll get going while you're busy and you can plant them out in a couple of weeks - module and all, and they'll have a nice good root structure.

I did that with some of my spring sown shallot and onion sets and they romped away!

[veg4681]

As onions are very cheap to buy, I was mainly concerned about having such a low value crop taking up valuable space in spring, just when I want to start getting the "cost a bomb" salads, beans etc into the ground.

Precisely my issue too. I intend to repossess their home (premature harvesting) when other more valuable vegetables are ready for the bed in spring.

Look who's talking!, AS IF I'm really going to get onions without some sort of crop failure. I'm growing Electric (red) which doesn't seem to have good track record with some of the viners here.

[lainey lou]

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.

Might be worth a trip to Poole Paul, can you tell us where this place is?

I am growing Red cross and Shimonita

[Hazel at the Hill]

Ah - HA!

Wellie, Snadger and Protea - you are all GENIUSES (genii?)!

I'm just off to take the onion sets round to Janes where SHE can module sow them in damp compost!!

Thanks all!