Onion Growing 2025

Well the onion grows from the centre, forcing the outer layers outwards while growing the bulb, as can be seen when transected.
It must be an interruption to this process which dries (ages) the external layer you refer to. Whether this due to water supply, greater exposure to sunlight or a nutritional variance;or a cross permutation of these will require further observation.
Watch your onions !

 

Will sow my onions this weekend.

Prospero f1 a Downey mildew resistant rinjsberger type for storing, white star a white continental type, walla walla for a sweet onion to eat fresh and zebrunne for a long storing shallot. Hopefully won't get eaten by pests like last year when I had to resort to sets

 

All sown. 120 modules, about 6 seeds each.

 

All the Red Barons are growing nicely in their old yoghurt pots, potting on looks ok.

 

Almost all my seedlings have survived so far, makes a good change from last year where I had to buy a load of sets to replace them.

 

All my seedlings are now in their final growing plot in the raised bed, looking good so far.

 

I haven’t grown Kelsea before but thanks to @JWK who kindly sent me seed I am having a go.
I got very good germination in January and potted on the seedlings in about the end of February. They went onto the south facing bathroom windowsill after that. My large annual charity plant sale then happened which takes up all of my time so it was only today, probably late as they were quite root bound,that I potted them on. Some are going in a veg bed but a few I am going to grow in the greenhouse to see if I can achieve anything large! I have no idea about spacing but hope this is about right?
The greenhouse ones are growing in my compost with a bit of lime dust plus multipurpose on the top. If they are not right please advise and I can shift them about.

 

One per pot if you want whoppers.

 

Oh hell’s teeth the pots are big about 10 + ltrs. Really @pete ? I am going to be struggling for room in the greenhouse if they need a big pot each!

 

@hailbopp I think he meant much smaller pots. When I looked at your snap, my first impression was that they are about 2 liter pots and he may have made the same assumption?

 

I think its a case of how big do you want them to be.
You will get decent onions with how you have them, but if you wanted a really big one then only one per pot and feed like crazy once established.

To be honest I think you are a bit behind if you wanted really big.

 

Well I always did want “big ones” but my father called them bees stings so looks like my onions will be on a par then. I did think I was late in potting them on as they were well and truly root bound in their wee pots. All being well I will let a couple go to seed and do better next year god willing.

 

I grow my kelsaes for the taste. I like mild. Yummy.. so I don't care about the size. I believe the largest I've had is the size of a softball or 5 pin bowling ball.

I just finished eating last year's