Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Winter Onion sets & manure?

Collapse

X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Winter Onion sets & manure?

    Hi all,
    I have bought some winter onion sets to put in (not tried this before). What is the best way to add nutrients to the soil before I do this? We recently were given several bags of well rotted horse manure that we were intending to dig into the whole patch but I'm assuming this wouldn't be a good idea where I am about to plant the onion sets?
    Any advice appreciated...

  • #2
    This should help :-)

    http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...bed_40245.html

    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by Palmers-patch View Post
      Hi all,
      I have bought some winter onion sets to put in (not tried this before). What is the best way to add nutrients to the soil before I do this? We recently were given several bags of well rotted horse manure that we were intending to dig into the whole patch but I'm assuming this wouldn't be a good idea where I am about to plant the onion sets?
      Any advice appreciated...
      Horse manure really doesn't ahve a lot of nutrients in it, it's used to improve soil structure.... the thing you want to avoid is a lot of nitrogenous fertilizer at the moment... so don't add BFB or chicken pellets now, horse manure is OK (dig it in well) and I'd suggest plenty of bonemeal, the phosphorous is good for the roots, which is what you want your autumn planting onions to grow .... then in march give them a big top-dressing of BFB or even just dried blood if you can get it and watch them shoot away.....

      chrisc

      Comment


      • #4
        Thanks for both replies - i'll get digging in the manure, add some bonemeal and get planting!

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by chriscross1966 View Post
          Horse manure really doesn't ahve a lot of nutrients in it, it's used to improve soil structure.... the thing you want to avoid is a lot of nitrogenous fertilizer at the moment... so don't add BFB or chicken pellets now, horse manure is OK (dig it in well) and I'd suggest plenty of bonemeal, the phosphorous is good for the roots, which is what you want your autumn planting onions to grow .... then in march give them a big top-dressing of BFB or even just dried blood if you can get it and watch them shoot away.....

          chrisc
          Sorry to be thick, but what is BFB?

          Comment


          • #6
            Blood, fish an bonemeal...i think
            Current Executive Board Members at Ollietopia Inc:
            Snadger - Director of Poetry
            RedThorn - Chief Interrobang Officer
            Pumpkin Becki - Head of Dremel Multi-Tool Sales & Marketing and Management Support
            Jeanied - Olliecentric Eulogy Minister
            piskieinboots - Ambassador of 2-word Media Reviews

            WikiGardener a subsidiary of Ollietopia Inc.

            Comment


            • #7
              The problem with manure is it'll hold moisture which in winter could make the onions rot, onions are not greedy feeders i give them a hand full of BFB per Sq metre and they grow fine

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by krazy_krok View Post
                The problem with manure is it'll hold moisture which in winter could make the onions rot, onions are not greedy feeders i give them a hand full of BFB per Sq metre and they grow fine
                Yes.... but.... come the summer they'll need it (onions seem to want a lot of water as they bulk up) and there's no way to dig it in under a standing crop.... mulches are of less value to onions than to most plants as they want to grow on top of the soil.... Unless the site has a history of waterlogging (ni which case you'll have problems anyway) I'd be digging in the poo....

                chrisc

                Comment


                • #9
                  I have in the past riddled some manure and spread it on top of the bed after planting out & the onions have sprouted.(Top dressing?)
                  I have had some good results by doing this.
                  Last edited by bubblewrap; 20-10-2009, 04:03 PM.
                  The river Trent is lovely, I know because I have walked on it for 18 years.
                  Brian Clough

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Ooh thats how you do it View Post
                    Sorry to be thick, but what is BFB?
                    Glad you asked that, I've been trying to work it out too!

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Kayt View Post
                      Glad you asked that, I've been trying to work it out too!
                      Blood Fish and Bonemeal.
                      My 2014 No Dig Allotment
                      My 2013 No Dig Allotment
                      My 2012 No Dig Allotment
                      My 2011 No Dig Allotment

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        I use a sprinkling of chicken pellets when planting in late autumn, just enough to get the sets going before winter checks their growth. Then in spring I will give a dressing of BFB to get them going again. This year I am also going to mulch with leaf mold in spring to see if it helps in getting larger onions.

                        Ian

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Thats interesting gojiberry, regarding the elaf mulch. I have two large hippo bags full of shrerred leafs. I also may try addign them to my onion bed.

                          We should compare results.

                          Thanks
                          Those that forget the past are condemned to repeat it!

                          Comment

                          Latest Topics

                          Collapse

                          Recent Blog Posts

                          Collapse
                          Working...
                          X