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is there any real benefit from starting shallots and onion sets in pots undercover before planting them out later
Good question Ladbrokes as these are such hardy vegetables, there may be just a small increase in eventual size. Shallot sets can be planted now, direct in soil, although onion sets are best kept for planting around the equinox, to reduce the risk of their bolting.
Onion and shallot sets had been planted in pots by the previous gardener where I work, so it was down to me to plant them out when I took over there.
It took so long, so incredibly long, literally hours, such a frustratingly slow process especially during the spring when one has so many other jobs to do. It is so much quicker to plant the onion and shallot sets out a bit later, but directly into the soil.
Steph
What size pots are they in? I use 9cm pots for most of my plants as I use a bulb planter to make the hole as it is the right size to drop the pot contents into.
PeteThey were around that size but I had to use a trowel. It took about 3 hours!
Onion and shallot sets are so perfect for popping into dibbered holes that I can not see any advantage to putting them in pots first, especially as there are so many other jobs to be doing in the spring
The reason I do it is that I can set them up if the weather is bad. Also once they are growing away I don’t have to go around putting them back in the ground where they have popped out.
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