I really struggle with aliums in my garden, tried leeks and onions from seed last two years with no results. so this is my last attempt and going to try onion sets and garlic this year. Garlic i put in last year and with luck they should do well as i can see green tips poking through. But will be planting the onion sets but there is teh usual mix of advice online. from some saying loose soil where others say compressed... you know the usual nonsense. from my gardening books it looks like best advice is to work in some manure and fert as soon as possible plant the bulbs and then mulch to keep the weeds down and the moisture trapped in. any advice you guys can provide would be of help.
Your gardening books are spot on. Onions are fairly heavy feeders, so fertilizing is a good idea. They like even moisture, so mulching after they are well and truly up (when the greenery is about 3" tall) certainly helps. Just don't plant them too deeply. Onions like to have their shoulders out of the soil (you can see the bulb's top before you pull it) and a mid-season fertilizing keeps them growing well. Your garlic will do well, also. Just give it a feeding in April.
There are two kinds of sets, one will make good size onions, although they are not good for storing, and one will only make smaller onions like scallions. Those are the main types although I have heard that some make large heads. Both types are planted the same like MG said. But no need to go to great lengths as they will do fine in most soils as long as it doesn`t pack too hard. Just barely put the sets in soil. as long as roots are covered they are fine. Lightly water but don`t soak. You can add compost to the top as soon as they show growth. Fertilize a couple of times by top dressing and water it in if using commercial, during growth. And just let them grow. Just don`t love them to death. They will do fine with little care except weeding.
