Autumn planted onion sets verses green manure?

[jean]

In October I planted some Japanese over wintering onion sets, I had done this the year before with reasonable success. This year the sets I planted a few weeks ago are catching up very quickly. I am in 2 minds as to whether to repeat this in the Autumn or just sow green manure as the benefit to the soil would probably be better.

Any views?

[Deleted]

jlotie said:

In October I planted some Japanese over wintering onion sets, I had done this the year before with reasonable success. This year the sets I planted a few weeks ago are catching up very quickly. I am in 2 minds as to whether to repeat this in the Autumn or just sow green manure as the benefit to the soil would probably be better.

Any views?

I don't claim to be an onion expert...more an observer

Purely from my viewpoint (with my little patch) the Oriental types hog the beds all winter, overwinter the nasties, are harvested all but 3 weeks before the maincrop and don't store anywhere near as well. Which is probably why I have never grown them ;D

I'm not growing any big onions this year - Had to buy a red onion in Sainsbugs last August - it was just 7 pence! So this year it is shallots and silver skinned......Watch out for me in 6 months I'll be most probably pickled

[jean]

[quote author=captaincabbage board=chat thread=1177878906 post=1177883536
Purely from my viewpoint (with my little patch) the Oriental types hog the beds all winter, overwinter the nasties, are harvested all but 3 weeks before the maincrop and don't store anywhere near as well. Which is probably why I have never grown them ;D



[/quote]

Thats what I have been thinking CPC, I am coming round to the idea that green manure is a better option.

[TeeGee]

A question;

Are the Japanese onions planted out in the same spot as last year?

I think the mild dryish winter we have had is playing its part i.e the japanese onions are suffereing, conversely the weather in recent weeks is pushing the maincrop onions along quicker than normal.

At least this is what I am finding.

Regarding 'keeping' qualities I am still using last years stock, and as things stand I think I will just finish last years maincrop when this years crop will be ready.

I have a similar situation with potatoes, I think it is feasable that I will just finish last years crop just as the 1st earlies become ready.

So no way would I consider a green manure in favour of a crop of onions.

[jean]

Hi TeeGee

No the onions were planted in a different spot last Autumn, over 200 as I use lots of onions ;D. It just seems that this year they haven't done so well. Maybe you are right, I will wait and see how they fare and perhaps if I decide to try again not put so many in