Growing Autumn Planting Onion Sets

Onion

Onion Sets are tiny little bulbs which can be planted into large pots or raised beds. There are autumn and spring growing Onion sets and onions can also be grown from seed.

Buy Bulbs: September,
Plant Bulbs: September, October and November,
Harvesting: June – July,
Varieties include: Radar, Champion, Troy

Where do I Plant?

Large Pots, plots, raised beds or allotments.

Varieties to Choose from:

Tracey at iGrowVeg has grown the following varieties:

• 2008 – Red Cross – Autumn Planting Onions,
• 2009 – Sensyhu Yellow Onions.

Other Suggested Varieties:

• Radar – Mild taste, early planting and lift in Late May to June.
• Troy – Yellow skinned with a good tolerance to bolting.
• Snowball – Pure White skin and excellent storing bulbs.
• Electric – A red variety with a great flavour.

How to Sow Autumn/Overwintering Onions Sets

You will need:

• A Raised bed, large pot, plot or allotment bed,
• Autumn planting onions sets/bulbs,
• Gloves and a trowel,
• Watering Can,
• Plant Labels.

• iGrowVeg Guide to Planting Onion Sets

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  1. Buy Onion Sets in September or October

• iGrowVeg Guide to Planting Onion Sets

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  2. Start off your onion bulbs in cell trays or pots to force them to produce roots. Then plant out the rooted bulbs in raised beds or a large pot.

• iGrowVeg Guide to Planting Onion Sets

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  3. Make rows of mounded earth for your onions to sit in.

• iGrowVeg Guide to Planting Onion Sets

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  4. Water the mounds and push your onions into the soil on top of the mounds. This is to prevent your onions becoming water logged. Leave out the tips and cover with netting to prevent the birds from pulling out your bulbs.

Instructions:

1. Refer to your own seed packet or take these instructions as a guide only.
2. Prepare the bed by breaking up any soil clumps, add compost if necessary and raking level,
3. Make mounds with the soil in rows to plant the onion bulbs in. This helps rain/water run-off and prevents rot.
4. Push the onion bulbs with the roots first into the mounded soil, if the soil isn’t loose enough use your trowel to make a hole.
5. The bulb should be covered over with soil but leaving the very top of the bulb visible.
6. Water and label the rows.
7. Optional: Cover with an enviromesh or similar cloche to protect from frost.
8. If you leave the onions uncovered, the birds may pull them out of the ground, just push them back into the soil.

Caring for your Autumn Planted Onions
The best thing about planting these onions is there is no maintenance required until spring.

Pests and Diseases of Autumn Planted Onions

• White Rot – A white fungus that attacks the base of the bulb and roots. Remove and do not plant onions in the same soil for 8 years.
• Neck Rot – A grey fungus that attacks the neck of the leaves. Red and yellow onions are less likely to attract this disease. Avoid growing onions in same soil for 2 years.
• Onion Fly – Occurs in dry conditions, larvae can burrow into onions. Growing from sets and with carrots reduces the chances of getting this disease.

Harvesting Tips

• Lift the bulbs once the foliage dies back naturally and the foliage is brown and papery,
• Dry them by leaving them on top of the soil, if rain is forecast put in a well ventilated and moisture free area like a shed or garage to dry,
• Check the onions and shallots regularly to sort out the rotten bulbs otherwise this could affect the other bulbs,
• Store in nets or string them up together and hang from a shed roof or store in a dry kitchen cupboard. Autumn planting Onions can be stored until the end of the year.

Recommended Winter Vegetables to grow with Autumn Planting Onions:-

• Autumn Sowing Peas,
• Autumn Sowing Broad Beans,
• Autumn Planting Shallot Sets,
• Garlic.

Other Onion Related Posts you may be interested in:

• 8 Reasons Why you should Grow Your Own Onions
• Growing Onions & Shallots from Sets and Seed
• Outstanding Onion Facts
• Growing Spring Onions,
• Vegetables to Lift, Harvest and Store in September,
• Vegetable Seeds and Sets to Buy in September,
• Radish Harvest and my First Onion
• Back To How To Grow Veg Guides.

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