Red onions from seed for autumn planting? Is it too late?

[kathyd]

Hi. I've not found onion sets for autumn planting over here, but my autumn red onions did so much better than my spring ones are looking that I'd like to try again. Am I too late to plant seeds for autumn planted red onions? I've seen Long Red Florence shallot seeds in the shops, not much else... I've never grown them from seed before so I don't know how it works - do you effectively get 'sets' before you get onions?? Seems logical, but then logic isn't exactly my greatest strength .

[roitelet]

My packet of Rouge de Florence onion seed says sow August/September. I did sow some for over wintering one year and they were very sucessful. However that was before we started to get the extreme cold we have had for the last three years. I am going to try again and see what happens there is nothing to be lost except for a few seeds.

They don't make sets as such. Sow the seed in open groung and when the plants are large enough transplant them to about 6 ins apart and sit back and wait!

[Paulottie]

Sets are heat treated.

Onions are biennial and produce seed in their second season. Im afraid 'yes' you are too late

In Short buy some sets...don't think they are about yet....if I see them I'll let you know as I will be over to Brittany in August...comme d'habtude.

[kathyd]

Well that's great roitelet, thanks! When I look at them online they say sow by April/May or the current year, so pushing it a bit even given the awful weather. Maybe I'll give them a go then, instead of desperately searching for someone in the UK who still has sets in stock AND is willing to post to France!

[Paulottie]

See...what do I know?...seems they do thing differently in France....vive la differance...and give it a go!

[roitelet]

There will be sets for Autumn sowing in the shops but you are too early yet. They don't usually appear until early September along with the Garlic.

[Shadylane]

Not too late at all. I sowed mine late June last year but will be sowing them in the next few days. I seem to remember last year, zazen said not to sow before 10th July or something. I use red baron for overwintering (not technically an overwintering variety but I've found they're well hardy). I sow them a pinch in each module then plant out in September. They survived that horrendous winter, under 2 foot of snow, prolonged sub zero temps and didn't do too bad at all. This year they've all bolted but some are a decent size.

[kathyd]

See...what do I know?...seems they do thing differently in France....vive la differance...and give it a go!

Lol Paulottie . Well, maybe I'll try both! I did look for sets here last year but couldn't find any at all, nor any garlic either, so if you happened to remember to keep an eye open, and you happened to let me know when they're available, and you were an extremely kind and helpful person and could bring some across and post them over here (unless you're coming anywhere near me...), then I might possibly be extremely grateful, thank you!

[Shadylane]

Just had a look at another thread, if you still want to try seeds you can sow them July/August.

[Paulottie]

Always be happy to help if I can...I live near Dinard.

[kathyd]

Thanks Shadylane, I'll definitely have a go at seeds, just to see how they work. Maybe I'll put some in the polytunnel and some outside, to cover both bases in case we have a really bad winter...

Paulottie - you're about 2 hours from us then, so if you're able to pick up a bag of onion sets and post while you're here, that would be wonderful... unless I can find a seed supplier online who'll post to me here. Maybe I've just been looking too early on - I've got a bit put off summer stuff with the weather I think, and started thinking about winter planting a bit prematurely .

Thx all for your help.

[Two_Sheds]

I did look for sets here last year but couldn't find any at all, nor any garlic

No garlic ! In France ! Quelle horreur

unless I can find a seed supplier online who'll post to me here.

eBay?

[Paulottie]

I sometimes buy my garlic from a fellow in the market...remembers to save a couple of loose heads for me. 'pour plantais.' Although Garlic acclimatises over the years....save the very best for next years crop.

probably still cheaper to import sets...will keep my eyes open.

[lukens]

My spring sowing of Long Red Florence have been very slow to progress, but then I got some as "bunching onions" in an Ocado veg box, which got me doing a bit of research online.

It seems they can be grown as anything from a spring to a bulb onion, and can be over wintered.

I'm going to give it a go, not much to lose. I'm going to try multi-seeding them in pots, to plant out as bunches.

[zazen999]

You can sow your Long Red Florence onions now, plant them out Set/Oct and you will have onions next spring to use direct. If you fleece/net them, you increase the ambient temp and keep the snow off and hopefully* they won't bolt before they start to thicken up.

*Weather dependent.