This discussion has been closed.
Posted by sandyg74 (U14950152) on Monday, 27th February 2012
Last year I grew onions from seed, and followed the instruction on the packet - i.e. pop the seeds about an inch under the soil. The instructions this year are the same. However, in most allotments around me, the onions are planted with the green shoot already showing and get a serious head start. Are the bought like that, or do they start them off in the greenhouse and then transfer? Any benefits to this?
Are they planting seeds or onion sets? Sounds like sets.
, in reply to message 1.
Posted by georgeandrewwilson (U15165385) on Monday, 27th February 2012
I always plant onion sets as seeds need to be sown much earlier, about Christmas in heated conditions and need a lot of TLC
I grew seeds for the 1st time last year, as well as sets.
Both turned out really well but it was a bit of a fiddle with the seed what with sowing, watering keeping warm and eventually planting out.
there's probably more choice of variety with seed and a pkt is much cheaper than sets.
But its sets only for me from here on
with the green shoot already showing and get a serious head startÂ
I think we are talking two different types of onions here!
The ones that are showing on the plots now are likely to be 'Japanese Onions' which are bred to grow rthrough winter to give an early crop, and can be produced from seeds or setts.
see here;
Whereas maincrop onions which again can be grown from either seeds or setts will probably be about the size shown in picture 14 here at this time of the year.
Welcome to the new Gardening Board. If this is your first time, then make sure you check out the
or  to take part in a discussion.
The message board is currently closed for posting.
Weekdays 09:00-00:00
Weekends 10:00-00:00
This messageboard is .
Find out more about this board's
´óÏó´«Ã½ © 2014 The ´óÏó´«Ã½ is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.