Onions in cells

Anyone started off their onions sets in cells?

I'm sure Joe Swift did this on his allotment.

Does it help or is it just makeing more work?

 

I don`t know, but it feels like it`s just making up more work than necessary to me, I will just be plonking mine in a la Monty Don I reckon. I will sow the seeds into cells though, will they be little sets for next year?

 

Jo, starting sets off in cells or small pots is a good idea. If we have a bad spring weatherwise, you can plant them later knowing they have a good start.:gnthb:

 

I'm with Dai on this one, I have approx 60 sets in 3"square pots, another 50 Senshyu overwintering on the plot, and another 75 or so ready to go in the ground next week.

Will also raise approx 50 Bedfordshire Champion from seed for later planting on the plot.

It's gonna be a busy year - thats just the onions!!!!

 

Im going to plant a few sets in half a toilet role tube very shortly and leave them in the consevatory. It will make an interesting comparision with the ones planted outside. Its reckoned we are seasonaly about three weeks behind the South East.
So our planting will be a bit later because of the usual late frosts we get.
robert

 

And, by using toilet roll centres, there will be no root disturbance at planting time.

 

I`m still going straight in in about three or four weeks depending on the weather-maybe earlier.

It will make an interesting comparison. No promises mind-I`m a newbie to it all.

 

I,m learning David.. I,m learning:gnthb:

 

Plant the whole lot, Rob.:gnthb:

 

when to onion sets go in the ground?

 

Making paper pots.Fold asheet of newspaper in 4,wrap halfway down straitsided tumbler,tuck other half inside tumbler then pushglass inside to flatten bottom.put as many asit takes to fill a seed tray and fill with compost joyce

 

Make pots with newspaper.Fold a sheet 4 times.place halfway down straightsided tumbler and roll round then tuck the rest into tumbler. Press tumbler into paper pot to flatten the bottom.Place as many as it takes to fill a seed tray and fill with compost. make any size you want with differrent thicknesses of news paper. joyce

 

I cover my seeds with fleece. good results.

 

Thanks Joyce for the paper pot tip. I have knocked some up today and used a few along with some toilet roll tubes to plant some onion sets.
They will sit in my conservatory and get a good start to the season.. (Ihope)