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Large onions

GilbertonGilberton Posts: 24
in Fruit & veg
Hi
I want to grow some onions which are a decent size, after many years of little ones. 
Does anyone know which sets give a good size and also where do you buy from? 
I am wanting to plant in Autumn and always plant in spring and wondered if this is reason for small size.
Thank you 
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Posts

  • Singing GardenerSinging Gardener Posts: 1,237
    The last couple of years I've grown Stuttgarter Stanfield and had some huge onions and all of a decent size. I plant in spring though and they're a salad onion so quite mild in flavour.
  • GilbertonGilberton Posts: 24
    I wondered if I was missing a trick not planting in autumn. Might give  these a go then. Thank you!
  • nick615nick615 Posts: 1,487
    I find I get good crops of onions from Sturon sets, never planted in autumn.  See pic.
  • GilbertonGilberton Posts: 24
    They look great. Thank you
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    I have always understood that you need to grow onions fromm seed to get large sizes. Tradionally the seed are sown on Jan. 1st. I have found that large onions do not seem to keep as well as smaller crisp ones but maybe that is just me. I grew Bedfordshire Giant this year had some huge ones but they were soft in texture and needed to be used before rotting off.
    I believe the giant onions you see in shows are grown from specially bred seed which is really expensive but should be available from specialist seed suppliers of exhibition varieties.
  • GilbertonGilberton Posts: 24
    Thank you. Good point about keeping quailities I hadnt thought of.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    Another vote for 'Sturon' heat-treated sets.  I start mine off in modules as soon as they arrive in spring and plant out when they are about 6" tall and roots fill the modules.  Note nick615's spacing and open aspect - to do well, onions need fertile ground and full sun, so be careful that whatever you plant near them doesn't shade them out.  For 'kitchen' size onions of about 3" diameter, you can reduce spacing to about 4".
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • tui34tui34 Posts: 3,493
    @Gilberton  Sow from seed in January to be planted out around March.  I find it less stressful to buy plants in March and plant them out.  2€ for 50 (I take 25 red and 25 white) salad onions and find that I usually finish with 90 to 100 plants (because of a double take in a plug).  Some are whoppers, some are just medium. Same with leeks. 
    A good hoeing is worth two waterings.

  • GilbertonGilberton Posts: 24
    Thanks everyone. Thats really helpful! 
  • cornellycornelly Posts: 970
    I am the same as Bob the Gardener, Sturon grown first in modules and planted out when the growth is 6" or so, get good results, we were eating last years until March.
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