Page 16 - Simply Vegetables Winter 2021/22

Red onions are our family treat...
RON NUTALL
Over the years, I have had very little success in growing them. This year will be different, I will be looking forward to my red onions being cooked at home, and although it is
a long way off I will exhibit them in the under 250 gram class at my local show.
All this enthusiasm has been encouraged by the red onion seed that our President, Medwyn, recently enclosed in the Simply Veg magazine.
Although we are at the beginning
of a new calendar year, this year’s growing season began a few weeks ago, with the old traditional sowing dates:
• Big onions, seed on Boxing Day.
• Shallots, plant out on New Year’s Day. This year I am going to make a plan
to grow Medwyn’s
seeds from the
middle of January!
Here he is keeping an eye on you!
The Plan and Cultural hints for Onions under 250 grams
1. ESTABLISH THE SEEDLINGS.
3. THE GROWING PERIOD
Early January:
Plant the seeds around the middle of the month. On
the top of a growing medium, like John Innes No. 1, or Levington Seed compost, in a small seed tray and cover with fine vermiculite in a warm greenhouse. In fact, I have decided to give them a start in a small propagator in my office. They like a low temperature for early germination, as low as 14C, and I will keep the soil damp and not wet, expecting germination in about 2 weeks.
Mid/Late January: Ready to pot-on. Into 3”pots.
After maintaining the temperature at about 13C, when the seedlings are at the ‘crook’ stage and before showing the first proper leaf, they will be transplanted into 3” pots using the stronger John Innes No.2 compost or Levington F2s, and again maintaining them damp, but not wet.
Mid-February: Transfer to greenhouse. Until 22nd March
Note: If the weather is particularly cold, sowing can
be delayed as late as Mid-February. That should be OK, because the natural day length is longer and it is likely to be a bit warmer. But, by then they will be a month behind and be expected to get a move-on!
May. After the full moon at the end of May. Frosts are no longer expected.
Cover the soil with polythene to keep surface dry and prevent deterioration at the base of the onion.
• When the weather is dry continue watering, to a
maximum of 2 pints a week each
• Protect with insecticide
• Enhance growth with liquid magnesium.
• Weed regularly but do not disturb the roots.
• Support the rapidly growing onion with canes and a
hoop of wire.
June/July:
When onions begin to bulb-up.
• Feed and spray with liquid potash. • Water from the bottom of the
onion bulb to prevent any
encouragement rot.
• Pot-grown plants prefer water
and feed round the top of the
pot away from growing point.
After ‘Mid-Summer day’ [21st June],
when the bulbs become swollen
• Stop the watering.
• Peel down any dead or broken skins to soil level. Harvest when foliage begins to turn yellow and die back. Look for and select bulbs that have a 10” circumference, they have he potential to grow to 250 grams.
2. PLANTING OUT:
March: Prepare the soil. In the allotment, make a trench 18”deep. Fork the bottom. Apply half a pound of bone meal every 3 yards.
Second week of March: You will notice when the roots
are established when they start growing out of the bottom of the cells and it is time to move them on into 5”pots. Harden-off the young onions in the greenhouse or a cold frame prior to planting out either directly outside or into a poly-tunnel with a prepared bed.
Fourth Week of March: give the ground a top-dressing of a general fertiliser. Rake in half a pound of Sulphate of potash for every 3 sq. /yards. Mix it well into the top 5” of soil.
April: Time to be planting out!
4. PREPARE FOR EXHIBITION
August: The week before a show. Make a final selection of the bulbs carefully chosen for exhibition.
For the show.
• Dress with talc type product to harden the skin. • Dry by fan to produce an even soot brown skin. • Tie with raffia to improve presentation.
• To prevent splitting, wet to soften
their necks.
I am looking forward to meeting you at a show later
this year and
discussing with you
your progress
and successes.
At the end of the month plant out the onions at 9” spacing in well prepared ground with plenty of rotted manure/ compost. Firm & water in.
16 Simply Vegetables