Re: Onion Seeds versus Onion Sets


John Vanini;731410 Wrote:
Every year I have bought onion sets and have had a reasonable success
rate
but I am considering, for the coming year, growing from seed. Has
anyone any
experience of this and can advise me of the advantages and the
disadvantages.- and, perhaps, suggest any particular variety? I have
looke4d
at the on-line catalogues but can't really make up my mind which to go
for.



My reasons or wanting to change this year is that, the sets always get
too
many small onions that never seem to do very well and, though they
grow,
they remain fairly small. Also, I have no idea what type of onion they
are
(this is because I buy them from my allotment shop and they don't seem

certain as to the type they've bought!!!)

As regards the position of my garden (which may well make a difference
as to
what varieties I can grow) I live in Sussex, not far from the coast.

Regards,

John

I have grown sets this year (Sturon, Setton and Red baron) due to local
damp conditions half the sets have grown to a reasonable size but about
50% have either bolted or the leaves have folded over early preventing
further growth - these have then lain on the wet ground and started to
rot. I have also grown Ailsa Craig from seed - started in Feb under
heated conditions in sead tray (on kitchen window sill) and when about
2.5" tall planted out 6" apart in final place in garden

The seed grown onions are still fully upright and continuing to grow
while the sets have all collapsed and i am now having to harvest early
- some are a good size (5" across) but smaller and less consistent than
the seed variety.

Unfortunately Ailsa craig are not renownd for keeping so will be
growing Red baron and Rinjsberger from seed next year.




--
JNTDAD
.

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