Planting out onions

[AuntyPodean]

I grew onions for the first time last year and quite a lot of them went to seed. One of the "good ole boys" on the allotments told me that it was cold weather which would make them do that. Is that so, and when should I plant them out?

[oldherbaceous]

Dear AuntyPodean, any type of stress can cause onions to go to seed, whether it be cold weather, hot weather or a lack of rain or too much rain, so the ole boy was about right.

Regarding the planting out.
If you have grown them from seed, they can go in as soon as the soil is workable, and the plants are betwen 4 and 6 inches tall, but dont bury them to deep or they will get something called thick neck, just plant them so the little white bulb is just below and only just below, soil level.

If they are sets, they can go in as soon as your soil is workable.
If you ever get heat treated sets, these need to go in as soon as possible arfter arrival.

[AuntyPodean]

Thank you very much, Old Herbaceous, for all the info. I shall be growing from seed, so shall try to get everything perfect for them.posting.php?mode=reply&f=4&t=8220&sid=c018a8468a4afda49757feec93854cbf#

[AuntyPodean]

Whoops ! That was meant to be a smiley. How do you include them on this board?

[oldherbaceous]

Just go over to the left and click on which one you want, the icon will appear when you have posted your reply.

[glallotments]

Hi Aunty,
If you want to use sets try heat treated ones. The flower bud is damaged or killed by the heat treatment so shouldn't seed - an odd one or two may survive but we have had good success from them. They are a bit more expensive but we think it's worth it.

They are available from many sources just Google "heat treated onion sets"

Two suppliers below to give you a start

http://www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk/heat-prepared-cid428.html

http://www.thompson-morgan.com/potatoes1/group/onion+sets.html