Planting onions

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sawpalm Winston Salem, NC Sep 23, 2009

What is the best way to plant onions sets....rows...raised beds...or raised rows?

We have clay soil and just got a big load of leaf mulch. We will incorporate that into the soil but then wasn't sure what is best for laying out the field. it's about 20 x 20.

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Jim41 Delhi, LA Sep 23, 2009

I'd plant onion sets in rows. Doesn't really matter whether in the ground or bed. If your soil has enough mulch to keep it fairly loose the ground would be ok. It doesn't take as many sets as you think, they multiply like crazy.

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HoneybeeNC Charlotte, NC(Zone 7b) Sep 23, 2009

sawpalm - I have clay soil, too. I have raised beds with lots of potting mix, coir, etc. I set "Candy Apple" onions, both red and white as they are "day neutural" for our area. The onions don't care if they are in rows, I set them about six inches apart.

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jjconcepts Milford, CT(Zone 6a) Sep 24, 2009

Like honeybee says,, they really don't care. I have very heavy clay and drop 2 " of compost and work it in shallow with a rake.. The texas supersweets just grow right out of the ground where the clay gets too hard for them to grow lower.. I usually just pick them and the reds up like picking softballs after baseball practice.. (are you planting now?)
-joe-

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sawpalm Winston Salem, NC Sep 25, 2009

Thanks...I have another idea. without going into too long a story, I am thinking of planting red clover in the paths between the rows of onions to keep the weeds undercontrol and also to have a green manure. Will not plant the clover until mid october unless that's too late (I have to read up on this).

Has anyone tried this? My goal is to improve the soil with more organic material and to make this as easy as possible for our volunteers. The plot is actually 20 x 40 so it's a decent size.

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Jim41 Delhi, LA Sep 25, 2009

That's the name of the game sawpalm, be innovative. Give it a try. Should pay off for you next spring.

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HoneybeeNC Charlotte, NC(Zone 7b) Sep 25, 2009

sawpalm - I sowed crimson clover (which I believe is different from red clover) last fall. I didn't make a note of the date, but probably followed the directions on the package. It did very well. Our cold winter didn't kill it, and come spring the flowers were gorgeous! I hated having to dig it in, it was so pretty.

I was surprised at how quickly it broke down in the soil.

I purchased the seeds from Johnny's

As Jim41 said, give it a try :)

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