onion sets gone wrong i think?

[biglongdarren]

i had a packet of onion sets that was for autumn planting and i planted them a month or so after christmas,now they were planted in well manured ground and are growing well but the bulb itself seems to be very deep in the ground now,maybe 4/5inches below the surface,there is plenty of green leaves but will the onion bulb ever swell and grow that far under the ground?
Darren

 

[merylvingien]

the bulb itself seems to be very deep in the ground now,maybe 4/5inches below the surface

HOW is that possible? Did you plant them too deep?

 

[bigal123_123]

hi shouldnt grow onions in freshly manure ground makes them split and rot

 

[susbees]

HOW is that possible? Did you plant them too deep?

Positive geotropism? Genetic engineering - mole genes?

 

[drstitson]

sounds a wee bit deep to me (are you talking base of bulb 4/5 inches down or top?).

on GQT, last year i think it was, Bob F recommended planting essentially on the surface with earthing up until established.

(he didn't specify anything about manure OR more importantly addition of his own "amber nectar").

 

[Bee-Key-Pur]

I would say they are to deep. You can always take them up and plant a different crop in that location, then plant some onion sets in a different place...

Brian

 

[keithgrimes]

Sets should be planted with tips just showing above soil level. Superphosphate waterd in just before planting is a good idea, but as last posters have said, fresh manure nota good idea. If you plant new sets now they should be fine for this autumn

 

[RoofTops]

If you didn't plant them 4 or 5" deep they should be fine. If you did they probably won't do well. Best to re-plant if this is the case.

 

[psafloyd]

Sets should be planted with tips just showing above soil level. Superphosphate waterd in just before planting is a good idea, but as last posters have said, fresh manure nota good idea. If you plant new sets now they should be fine for this autumn

But superphosphate has its drawbacks and whether you are an organic gardener or not, nothing beats improving the soil and encouraging microbes and earthworms.

 

[Teemore]

I always press onion sets and shallots into the ground to the depth of the top joint on my thumb -very scientific!!

 

[oliver90owner]

Don't know much about most recent developments but whereas onions used to be a simple annual crop for the gardener (either from seed or sets), more recent developments have been the Japanese onions which were winter/spring developers. There are now likely to be sets for these varieties, hence the autumn planting schedule. So if these sets are trying to develop in the wrong season, it is a bit silly, really, to expect them to flourish. A bit like trying to grow 'lengthening day' lettuce in 'shortening day' season!

Possibly a case of 'know your onions'?

RAB

 

[keithgrimes]

Don't know much about most recent developments but whereas onions used to be a simple annual crop for the gardener (either from seed or sets), more recent developments have been the Japanese onions which were winter/spring developers. There are now likely to be sets for these varieties, hence the autumn planting schedule. So if these sets are trying to develop in the wrong season, it is a bit silly, really, to expect them to flourish. A bit like trying to grow 'lengthening day' lettuce in 'shortening day' season!

Possibly a case of 'know your onions'?

RAB

I tried them last year and the year before. V Disappointing

 

[oliver90owner]

I tried them last year and the year before.

Seed? Sets? Onions? Japanese? Lettuce? Or what?

RAB

 

[RoofTops]

There are three sorts of sets you can get these days that I know of. The original ones which you plant in the spring. Then came the Japanese ones which were planted in August and more recently sets that you can plant in the Autumn. I tried some of the latter and they almost all rotted off in the ground as they matured in the summer - which is sandy and well drained so they should have been OK. I won't be trying them again and this year am using seed - but spring planted sets are more reliable I guess and easier but I multiple sow my seed so you have several onions forming in a clump which suits my deep beds.

 

[For want of a better word]

spring onions........ an essential in a bait sausage should be planted 6 barleycorns deep by 6 apart in rows 9 barleycorns apart.

 

[tonybloke]

of course, for those not 'in the know' 3 barleycorns = 1 inch

 

[keithgrimes]

I tried them last year and the year before.

Seed? Sets? Onions? Japanese? Lettuce? Or what?

RAB

Japanese Onions. The lettuce was fine thanks

 

[oliver90owner]

The lettuce was fine thanks

You must have followed the planting instructions.

I was serious about lengthening and shortening day varieties. 1966, working in a nursery, was that bit of education. I remember referring to soil as 'dirt', because it kept up the banter with my my mentor, of that experience. 'Dandy' was the shortening day variety of the day IIRC.

The 'normal' onion varieties do not produce any more leaves (in number) after the summer solstice. What the other types do, I have no idea.

Regards, RAB

 

[Mrs Soup]

I've planted both the autumn and spring sets for a least the last 5 years and had good results with both. If anything the autumn sets have given me better results. I'm on clay/loam and have never had a problem with them rotting.

 

[buzz bee]

If they have got that deep, they are too deep - replant them. The bulb needs to see the sky. I once moved a whole bed of autumn planted sets, from my old allotment to my new garden, in late February. they were fine and I got a really good crop.