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In My Seed Box for 2027 - Onions From Seed

  

I have grown Onions from seeds in the past and was quite successful but for the last few years I have been using sets. I did have problems with white rot on Mill Green Plot 1A and I tried growing on my old plot on Spencer Road and still had white rot problems. 

I think the art is to watch and harvest as soon as one sees the signs of white rot and of course rotate the crops on the plot. I have an additional half plot, I have decided that it's once again time to try growing Onions from seeds. 

In the beds where I have seen some white rot in 2022, I have grown Calient Mustard that's a great organic means of creating a soil environment that's uninviting to the disease. I had a great crop of over 300 onions in 2023 and not so many in 2024, and much less in 2025 due to limited space as I transition from ground level to raised beds.  

Onion seeds only last 2 - 4 years if kept properly, so I have ditched any seeds with a sow by date before 2024, as normally there is only a 2 year allowance by seed companies, and not all seed companies publish the saved end of date on the back of the packets . 

Review of Seed Stock in Packets with sow by Dec 2024

Welsh Onion                    - 250 Seeds - D.T.Brown  -  £2.19 

Review of Seed Stock in Packets with sow by Dec 2025

Onion Galacticus Seeds  - 100 Seeds - Dobies - £3.49

Redlander F1                   - 150 seeds - No Longer Listed -  D.T.Brown 

Review of Seed Stock in Packets with sow by Dec 2026

Redrover F1                     - 150 seeds - £2.99 - Suttons 

Germination  10 - 14 Days

Alphabetical Listing of Onions I have grown in the past 

                                          Sowing           Sowing       Planting          Harvesting
                                          Indoors          Outdoors       Out     

Ailsa Craig                         Dec - Mar                                                Aug - Sept
Bedfordshire Champions                       Mar - Apr                             Aug - Sept
Ciboule Red Dragon                              Mar - Apr                             Aug - Nov
Fasto                                 Jan- Mar       Mar - Apr         April            August - September     
Giant Zittau                                            Mar - May                           July - Sept 
Hylander F1                      Jan - Apr                                                 July - Aug
Red Baron (T&M)                                   Mar - Apr                            Aug - Sept
Red Baron (Fothergill's)    Jan- Mar       Mar - Apr          May           August - September
Senshyu Yellow

Welsh Onion                      Feb - Apr      Mar - Sept                         March - Oct Once Established

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Index

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Onion Sets

 

In the UK, onion sets are small, immature onion bulbs, grown from seed the previous year and harvested early to be planted out in autumn or spring for a quicker and more reliable crop than starting from seed. They offer a convenient way to grow onions, especially for novice gardeners, and provide an earlier harvest, though there is a smaller variety selection compared to seeds and they are typically more expensive.  

How they are made and why they are used

• Crowded growth: Onion seeds are sown densely, leading to small, undeveloped bulbs.
• Harvested early: These tiny bulbs are harvested before they reach full size. 
• Ready to plant: Unlike seeds, they are already at a more advanced stage of growth, making them quicker and more reliable to sprout. 

Advantages of using onion sets

• Ease of growth:

  Onion sets are an easy and fast way to get a harvest of onions, ideal for beginners. 
• Earlier harvest:

  Planting sets can lead to an earlier harvest compared to growing from seed. 
• Heat treatment:

  Many sets are heat-treated to prevent them from bolting (producing a flower instead of a bulb), which is a common issue when growing from sets. 

Things to consider

• Cost: Onion sets are generally more expensive than onion seeds.
• Variety: The range of onion set varieties is much smaller compared to the vast selection available as seeds. 
• Bolting risk: Sets are more prone to bolting than seeds, though heat-treated varieties significantly reduce this risk. 

The red onion sets I ordered came last week and were planted into part of Bed 1 and into bed 3 l normally grow a selection of colours in late spring but for now thats what I'm over wintering 

Varieties of onion sets I have grown in the recent past include:-

 

Karmen from Mr Fothergill's. 

Pink Panther from Mr Fothergills 

Snowball from Mr Fothergills 

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Index

Jobs On The Plot for October

 

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Spring Onions

 

In previous years I have done really well with Spring onions, I used to have two or three with my sandwich most lunchtimes, when my wife was alive. Something that stopped during my cancer treatment in late 2023 and thereafter. A note has been added to my Sowing & Planting Plan for 2027 so I can get Spring Onions going a month earlier than previous years.

The life expectancy of Onion seeds is 2 - 4 years, and most suppliers have a two year gap between packed and sow by date.  

Sow By 2026 

Ishikura (bunching)                 - 375 Seeds - £1.00*       - Wilko - Sow By 2026

Ishikura (bunching)                 - 375 Seeds - £1.00*       - Wilko - Sow By 2026

Ramrod                                   - 250 Seeds - £1.00*       - wilko - Sow By 2026

Ramrod                                   - 250 Seeds - £1.00*       - wilko - Sow By 2026

* Purchased in the Wilko 50% 0ff sale 

Alphabetical Listing of Varieties historically grown 

                                                Sowing            Harvest

Arrow                                     Mar - Apr          Aug - Nov
Feast F                                  Mar - Jul          Jun - Onwards ( Winter hardy) 
Gerda                                    Mar - Jun          May-Dec - Marshalls

Ishikura                                  Mar - May        Jun - Sep - Thompson & Morgan

Ishikura                                  Mar - Jul          May - Oct - Mr Fothergill's

Ishikura                                  Feb* - Jun         12 Weeks after Sowing - Kings Seeds

Lilia                                        Apr - Jul            Jun - Oct

Long White Ishikura               Mar - Jul           May - Oct - Johnsons
North Holland Blood Red       Feb - Jul           Apr - Oct
Pompeii                                  Mar - Jul          Jun - Oct
Purplette                        Mar - Jul          Jun - Oct

Ramrod                                  Mar - Jun          May - Oct - wilco

White Lisbon (Winter Hardy)  Mar - Sep         Mar - Nov - wilco 
White Lisbon                          Mar - Sep         May - Oct - Thompson & Morgan
White Lisbon                          Mar - Jul           May - Oct - Mr Fothergill's

White Star                              Mar - Aug                  - Dobies

White Star                              Sept to overwinter 

* Under Glass 

Sowing Plan for 2027

From 2027 a return to growing in vending machine cups in tray modules and transplanted into the onion beds plant membrane for the new sized raised beds 

Looking at the back of the seed packets, yes I do read them! What I find interesting is the different guidance provided by different seed companies for the same variety of plant. for example, looking at Ishikura Spring Onions from Wilko, Thompson & Morgan & Mr Fothergill

Sowing Outdoors

Mar - May ~ Thompson & Morgan
Mar - Jun ~ Wilko
Mar - July ~ Mr Fothergills

Frequency of Sowing

Wilko &  Mr Fothergills both suggest every 2 - 3 weeks for a continuous supply throughout the summer, interestingly Thompson & Morgan advice is that "The long harvest period means one sowing lasts the whole season!" which is kind of mad as there harvest period is shorter than both Wilko & Mr Fothergills ! Thompson & Morgan also states "Can be harvested pencil-thin or thinner, or left to mature to carrot size" although they don't state what kind of carrot.  

Thinning

Wilko & Mr Fothergills both suggest no thinning is required whereas Thompson & Morgan state it is!

Harvesting

May - Oct ~ Wilko
Jun -  Sep ~ Thompson & Morgan
May - Oct ~ Mr Fothergills

Germination 

Wilko &  Mr Fothergills both state 14 - 21 days and Thompson & Morgan provides no information on germination, I have seen this missing on quite a lot of their packs and it's something I'm and I guess most other gardeners are actually quite interested in.

I know that like Structural Engineers, if you get four or five gardeners together and ask them a question you are likely to get three different answers but until I see what other suppliers of Ishikura Spring Onions have to say, I think I will ignore T&M and go with the guidance from Wilko & Mr Fothergill.

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Index

Keter Store It Out Max 1200L Assembled

Kelly and I assembled the Keter Store It Out Max 1200L tonight and just managed to complete it as the daylight was going. This will be a game changer as I can now tidy the tools from the front room, the sack of vermiculite from the kitchen and different fertilisers stored on the patio area. It wall also give some temporary storage space for storing detritus from the other sheds in the garden, before they are taken to the dump.   

Coffee Grounds

 

My sister likes her cup of coffee in the morning before starting work and picks me up a regular supply of used coffee grounds from a well known, tax evading company in the UK. 

Used coffee grounds are beneficial for an allotment as they can be composted to enrich the soil with nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus , and potassium, or applied directly in thin layers to repel pests like slugs and snails. When adding them to the soil, it's best to mix them in to avoid creating a mat that blocks water absorption and to do it sparingly around young plants. Composting is the best method for long-term soil improvement and a more immediate nutrient release. 

Benefits for your allotment

Soil enrichment: Coffee grounds contain nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other trace minerals that nourish plants. Composting them with "browns" like dried leaves improves the soil's structure over time.

• Pest deterrent: The gritty texture of coffee grounds is an effective way to deter slugs and snails from reaching plants. Sprinkling a ring around sensitive plants can stop them from attacking.
• Attracts earthworms: Earthworms love coffee grounds, which helps aerate the soil and improve its overall condition.
• Improves soil health: Coffee grounds can help suppress certain fungal rots and wilts, and their addition can boost water retention in the soil. 

How to use coffee grounds

Compost them: The safest and most effective method is to add used coffee grounds to your compost bin. They are considered "green" matter due to their nitrogen content, so be sure to balance them with plenty of "browns".

• Apply directly (with caution):
  • Sprinkle a thin layer over the soil and lightly rake or dig them in.
  • Avoid applying thickly, as they can form a mat that prevents water from reaching the soil.
  • Do not use them as a thick mulch or apply directly around very young seedlings, as they can inhibit growth.
• Create a pest barrier: Sprinkle a ring of grounds around the base of plants to keep slugs and snails away. 

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Leeks

  

Leeks are something I have tried and not been particularly successful with, In 2018 I had better success but grew them as baby type and eat them as large spring onions. In 2023 I was going to have a bash at leeks again on Plot 1, but getting cancer and my Autoimmune disease put a stop to that in 2024 & 2025. So In 2026 I'm going to have a bash at Leeks again, mobility allowing.

The average life of leek seeds if stored correctly is 3 to 5 years. Most seed companies allow 2 - 3 years so anything that is 2-3 years past its sow by date is worth keeping and giving a try. 

Review Of Seed Stocks with Sow By 2024

Lancelot                            - 65 seeds - £2.49        - Suttons - Packed YE 2022

Review Of Seed Stocks with Sow By 2025

Autora F1                          - 30 seeds - £3.60        - Mr Fothergill's - Packed YE Oct 2022

Autora F1                          - 30 seeds - £3.60        - Mr Fothergill's - Packed YE Oct 2022

New in 2022 Autora F1  - 30 Seeds   - £3.60 - Mr Fothergill' - Sow By 2025

A very productive variety that’s reliable for autumn/ early winter crops. Plants are high-quality and non-bulbing with a delicious mild flavour.

Autora F1 has good resistance to rust and stands well in the ground, producing crops with impressive uniformity and easy to clean shanks. Bred from the same breeder as the popular variety Stromboli.

  

New in 2022 Lancelot   - 65 Seeds   - £2.49 - 16 71 52 - Suttons - Sow By 7/2024  

This variety of leek is a traditional-looking crop that grows dark green foliage with plants that do no bulb easily. Therefore, these provide straighter stems that are easy to grow on the veg patch and tastes wonderful. The 300 - 400mm long shanks develop a great proportion of white flesh and even more if you choose to earth them up.

'Lancelot' is a versatile crop in the kitchen and is an excellent addition to homemade soups, quiches and salads, or can be roasted for delicious Sunday dinners. Late autumn/early winter variety (Late August- January).

Sow thinly direct into a finely raked seedbed at a depth of 1.3cm (½") in rows 30cm (12") apart. (Germination 14-21 days). When ready to transplant make holes with a dibber 10-15cm (4-6") deep, 23cm (9") apart, drop a plant into each and fill with water to settle soil around the roots. Allow 38cm (15") between rows. To blanch, draw up earth to stems as growth develops. Leeks do well on most soils especially if well prepared. Can also be started off in trays.

 

Alphabetical Listing of Varieties historically grown 

                                                  Sowing          Sowing         Plant                Harvest
                                                  Indoors          Outdoors     Out 

Atal (Baby type)                                               Apr- Jul                                  Jun- Oct
Blue Green Winter                   Jan - Mar         Apr - May       May- Jun         Oct - Mar
Bulgaarse Reuzen Lincoln                               Mar- Apr                                Jul - Oct
De Carentan 2                                                  Mar- May                               Oct - Feb

Herfstuezen 3 - Porvite             Jan - Feb        Mar- Apr         May- Jul          Oct - Mar
Musselburgh (Mr Fothergill's)    Jan - Feb        Mar- Apr        May- Jul          Oct - Mar
Musselburgh Wilko                    Jan - Feb        Mar- Apr        May- Jun         Oct - Mar
Musselburgh Seed Tape T&M                          Mar- Apr                                Sep - Jan
Nipper                                                               Mar - Jun                               May -

In My Seed Box For 2027 - Index

Planning and Reviewing October in Previous Years

Reviewing the diary over the last Fourteen years for October 

2012 - 19th October I took my first allotment on at Mill Green Plot 1, and got my key to the gate. I started this blog and recorded the state of the allotment before I touched it and then the progress made on the first day trying the clear the plot.

The purpose of the blog was to record my progress and perhaps get some feedback and comments on what I was doing right and wrong and to remind me how much I had actually achieved when I really didn't really feel like I was getting anywhere or moving as fast as I wished. This blog has grown into so much more than my original scope and reason for starting. 

I purchased my first three Allotment books, of many that were to follow, and got my first packs of seeds with two of the books I bought.   

2013 - By the end of September and the start of October this year I had eight beds in place and was still clearing weeds and putting in an infrastructure of paths and beds in place. I created a portable chicken wire hoop frame to stop the site foxes from digging up the beds as I was creating them. 

I had manged to source a number of paving slabs off freecycle. The first formal plan of how the plot was going to ultimately going to be laid out was drawn, and as I worked nearby most dry lunch hours were spent on the plot doing little and often.

I harvested Cabbages and Cauliflowers, Tomatoes and Potatoes and I had real peppers growing in the blow-away greenhouse erected next to the shed and on the 9th of October the company I was working for informed me that my job was at risk and I was on the Redundancy list!.

The end of October was very wet and I recall being very frustrated  that I would not be able to get on with building the infrastructure.  

2014 - September this year had been the driest on record, and I started October by harvesting Marrows for the first time, other harvests included courgettes, Onions, Spring Onions, Carrots, cucumbers then on the 4th & 5th October and we had the first frosts. Continued to harvest runner beans, beetroots and peppers from the greenhouse. Picking up leaves from the pavements and at the end of the month picking Brussel Sprouts and I came up with a neew design for the slug traps.    

2015 - Due to the developments around Mill Green I had taken on an additional plot on Spencer Road Allotment and was working on clearance and infrastructure as well as working on Mill Green Allotment during the start of the month because of the dry and mild weather.  Tomato plants still growing in the greenhouse, Cabbage seeds in modules. 

Keith dropped off loads of Strawberry runners, Cutting down Mustard green manure on plot 1A. Clearing 23B and marking the boundary and the first two beds weeded and installed.    

Harvesting carrots and beetroots and planting cabbage.

2016 - Saving Tomato seeds, Infrastructure works progressing on Spencer Road plot 23B. cutting weed membrane for paths, beds and planting membrane sheets. All the tomatoes in flower buckets in the back garden removed, Green tomatoes in the Space Saver waiting to go red. harvesting King Edward spuds, first frost 8th October and lost some squash to it. Rest of the squash harvested and stored in the shed. Runner Beans cut off at the bottom so those left on the plant can die and dry out and be harvested for seeds. 

Additional beds created at Spencer Road, Break-in's and damage by vandals every other night for a week. then rain stopped their and our play on site. Following a committee meeting we tried to get everyone's email address and set up a Spencer Road Facebook group so we can let people know when we see shed doors open or polytunnels burnt.

Over wintering onion sets in modules, Horse muck delivered  and barrowed to the plot laid on beds and in Daleks to rot down more as too fresh.          

2017 -  I started doing my seed storage box audit and producing lists here on the blog. During the first week of October Redrow finally did the work to create the drop off and pick up area that I managed to negotiate with them. I had made the decision that I was going to keep on Spencer Road long enough to get everything I needed for plot 1 on Mill Green moved over including the Dalek, Shed and bed frames etc. 

My son-In-law helped me remove items from Spencer Road and bring them to Mill Green. 

Clearing beds on Mill Green Plot 1 and putting them to bed. Gross miss management of allotment plots 138 plots that could have been occupied and bringing in revenue.  

I worked out how much weed membrane I was going to need to cover the plot and ordered it off ebay. 

Pumpkins for carving were picked up from Spencer Road and the kerb stones I had transported over were laid on flat along the bottom of plot I defining the boundary. The 29th October was a full day of clearing and burning debris from Mill Green plot 1 

The plan layout for my new kingdom was drafted out in CAD based on the vision I had in my head at the time of taking over the plot.  

2018 -  Not a lot on the allotment front actually happened in October 2018. Three weeks of rain and my brother-in-law Keith who was more like a brother to me was seriously ill and we didn't know it at the time but terminally ill, in hospital during this month so days spent visiting him rather than the allotment. 

2019 -  Woodchips for the paths dropped off, Daughters Wedding stopped allotment play followed by bad and wet weather meant that sorting out seeds and planning next year took place for a week and a half during the middle of the month.  

124 people out of the 429 people on the waiting list that a plot is just waiting for you to view and accept.

In terms of lost revenue as the vacant list are no longer shared I can be exact with figures as in previous years, but assuming the plots are a mix of 250m2 and 125m2 at one end and possibly 250m2 at the other the council is losing revenue of between £9,176 - £11,594 pa which would pay for an admin clerk.

Taking little man Finn down to the allotment to harvest Pumpkins for carving for Halloween Harvesting Mini White Cucumbers & Kiwano's 

2020 -  In My Seedbox series of post started so I could see what seeds I needed. Clearing the shed in prep for the wall to be demolished and replaced with a fence. Rebuilding the extension to the shed now the wall has been replaced with a fence. Winter Squash Harvest. So Much Foliage So Little Butternut Squash. Natural Grower Review. Coco Coir Litres to Volume. New Tomato Varieties from D.T.Brown. Research and Planning Square Foot gardening.  

2021 -  In My Seedbox undertaken during this month as not a lot of visits possible due to a lot of rain with Spencer Road Allotment flooded again, Last of the potatoes harvested, Onions, tomatoes and Raspberries    

2022 -  In My Seedbox undertaken, lots of wet weather and inability to get cover to look after Jen so not many visits this month. Andy Emma and I hit the allotment and harvested Suttons Depurple Cauliflowers and Cabbages, runner beans

2023 -  In My Seedbox not started in October this year, as because of my mobility issues and the radiation therapy cancer treatment for five weeks started. I didn't have the energy to maintain this journal, I just posted to Facebook and around Christmas started to catch up with updating the journal based on the Facebook posts and the photos on my phone. Sowing Broad beans to over winter. Harvesting Three water melons, Potatoes in Buckets, Parsnips & Tomatoes from the greenhouse and my first and only Aubergine with Emma & Kelly and seeing a mouse in one of the beds.

2024 - Harvesting onions from plot 1, Painting the Potting shed.  Finishing off the paths around the potting shed.  Buying Richmoor Compost and dropping off to the plot. Remedial works to the car park and the main path because of damage caused by the contractor clearing plots 3 and 11 & 11A. Pre rooted garlic and onions sets planted in SFG Bed 2. Harvesting Java maincrop potatoes right at the end of October.  

2025 - Maintaining the Woodchipped paths. Still harvesting Rhubarb. Water turned off 15th October. Transplanting Winter Lettice into SFG Beds. Solar Ultrasonic Pest Detector that the foxes only avoided they walked around them but still came onto the allotment. Drying Coffee Grounds and Crushing Egg Shells. Visits by Robins and Foxes. Laying paving stones on plot 1A up past the leaf bed At the end of the month the weather it looked like I  still had a couple of weeks to harvest tomatoes as they ripen.

October is normally the month for last harvesting and overwintering plus bonfires to clear the blighted foliage and if the weather holds infrastructure works and closing down beds for the Winter months.  

To Do List