To cover or not to cover?!

[sharonmd]

Hi all,

Have got a nicely dug bed just waiting for overwintering onions and garlic to be planted - hopefully this weekend - and just wondered whether once planted I need to cover them with netting or anything? Would be grateful for any advice.

Not been to the allotment for a couple of weeks - partner had motorbike accident last time I was there and still in hospital, so most of my time has been nursing the injured rather than nursing my allotment!

Thank you! Sharon

[Mrs Dobby]

Overwintering Onion and Garlic shouldnt need any netting Sharon, tho if a severe frost is due it may be advisable to wrap them over with some fleece, but I dont think they need much protection at all!

Sorry to hear about the motorcycle mishap, I hope the OH is feeling better after all your ministrations!

[Lesley Jay]

No Sharon they will be fine without any netting or fleece. Push the onions into the ground just below the surface of the soil and the garlic needs to be planted about 4 inches deep.

Hope your OH is better soon.

[sharonmd]

Thanks very much for the advice and for the good wishes for my o/h!
Sharon

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hi Sharon - hope your OH is on the road to recovery. My OH goes out on his RD400 (restored) on a weekend and days off - but I still worry everytime he does. 'Fraid I tossed in my wings a few years ago! (too many aches and pains etc etc). Do let me know how you get on, both your OH and the onions as well. DDL

[yoanbob]

sending happy thoughts to your OH sharon.
onions and garlic like the frost, should be fine.

[supersprout]

A light mulch (couple of inches) of lawn mowings will stop the weeds but not the onions - anything to save a bit of weeding

[sharonmd]

Thanks again everyone.

Am taking Friday off work and plan to plant onions and garlic then!!

Can understand your concern over your o/h Dexterdog. I always worried too when my o/h went out on the bike, but no doubt those worries will be worse now. Mind you, he's still in hospital and won't be riding for a while. He's already planning the next bike though, so there's no hope really!

Will report back on the state of my onions!! And o/h!! Sharon

[dexterdoglancashire]

Know exactly what you mean Sharon! I just have to put my worries in a box every year when "the boys" go over to the IOM in June. Boys will be boys I guess - at least they are enjoying themselves! I'll stick to my gardening! DDL

[Stroppy scotte]

Sorry to haer about the O/H. Hopefully he is well on the mend
We are still planting onions and garlic and so far they all seem to be okay and surviving the frosts. That's more than can be said for some of the cabbages which look quite sad ( at least those that haven't been eaten )
Planted more than enough so we should be okay for a long time yet!!