Soggy Onions

[Peebels]

I put some over wintering onions in the ground late last year and they appeared to be doing ok. When I was down at the allotment yesterday however went to put one back upright only to find the small bulb was nothing more than a soggy empty shell. I checked some others and they are all the same. One of the other plot holders said there’s had done the same and they had to pull em all up? Does anyone know what causes this? We both had them from totally different places?

Thanks in advance

Peebs

[Flummery]

I'd imagine it's the very wet weather we've had. There's barely been a day all winter when the paths and roadway have been dry, let alone soil. I don't bother with over-wintering onions.

[Snadger]

By the sound of it there's nowt the matter with them.

Onion sets always loose the outer casing and grow from the middle! The 'set' is just a storage vessel for nutrients until they make their own roots and greenery. For cripes sakes don't pull them out! I'm sure they will be fine!

[Paulottie]

I agree with you Snadger. Leave them alone they sound fine...you'll know if they are dead... the leaves will be all floppy and yellow.

[Peebels]

Upps!

Well they came out very easly, had hardly any roots and lots of mush in them

live and learn eh

[Flummery]

I think they have rotted. Sorry fellas. If they are mushy with no roots, they're gonners.
Friend of mine describes this as 'snotty onion syndrome'. Happened to her overwinterers last year. Another rubbish wet season.

[di]

Sorry....but I agree with what Snadger said....most years I get all down thinking mine have rotted....but by the time I get round to pulling them up they've usually ressurected themselves so they get left in!!
Sorry....I know you said you've already pulled them up.But maybe next year give them a few extra weeks to prove themselves!

[snohare]

Oops. Damn. How to break a Scottish gardener's heart !

[Peebels]

Well by the smell and feel of em when i pulled em i am inclined to agree with flum, so i think i have done the right thing.

Its a blessing in a way, when i planted them i had not really planned it all out and i was finding them hard to work round.