Growing Onions & Shallots from Sets and Seed

Posted on 13. Sep, 2009 by Tracey in How to Grow Veg

I grew red onions (red cross) from sets (bulbs) planted last October and harvested in June, the crop was brilliant. I couldn’t believe how easy it was to grow them. Even though I didn’t use onions hardly ever before growing them, I’ve now found ways to add them to stirfries and roasts to add good flavour to my dishes. I will definitely be growing onions again this year. Find out more about Onions all this week on iGrowVeg.com

What is an Onion Set?
Onions Sets just mean single onion bulbs, like very tiny onions. They usually come delivered from the supplier in a net bag as individual onion bulbs. These are then planted straight into the soil in a large pot or raised bed. Onions sets are often heat-treated to prevent the onion from bolting or flowering.

Sets are usually recommended for people who are new to growing onions, as they a more reliable type to get started with. However they are more expensive than onion seed and the bulbs from suppliers need to be checked for disease before planting.

What is Onion Seed?
Onion seeds are cheaper than sets and there are more varieties available to choose from. As with growing any vegetable from seed there is a risk of them not germinating or rotting in the ground. Avoid sowing seeds on freshly manured ground as this is prone to rotting.

Onion

Knowing Your Onion Types

There are a few different types of onions for sowing and planting at different times of the year.

Onion & Shallot Sets:-

Onion – Autumn Planting Sets
Plant Bulbs: September, October and November.
Harvesting: June – July.
Varieties include: Radar, Red Cross, Champion, Troy and Senshyu Yellow (Japanese type).
Shallot – Autumn Planting Sets
Plant Bulbs: September to December
Harvest: June – July
Varieties include: Eschalote Grise, Yellow Moon, Griselle.
Onion – Spring Planting Sets
Plant Bulbs: March and April.
Harvest: August to September.
Varieties include: Stuttgarter Standfield, Alisa Craig, Red Baron, Rijnsburger.
Shallot – Spring Planting Sets
Plant Bulbs: February to March.
Harvest: July to September.
Varieties include: Picasso, Pikant.

Onion & Shallot Seeds:-

Onions – Spring Sowing
Sow Seeds: February to March (or under glass December to February, plant out April).
Harvest: July to September.
No of Weeks to Harvest: Approx 24 Weeks.
Varieties include: Red Baron, Champion, Hytech F1, Red Pearl F1, Marco, Alisa Craig, Walla Walla, Sturon (organic).
Shallot – Spring Sowing
Sow Seeds: February to May
Harvest: July to September
Varieties include: Ambition, Matador, Banana, Prisma F1.

Other Onion Related Posts you may be interested in:

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