overwintering onion sets

[aliveggrower]

I planted some Red Baron sets in late October. When I visited the lottie yesterday they were nearly all standing proud of the soil and were looking kind of shrivelled, though no sign of any mildew. There was a strong wind and they were being blown about so I added some more soil around them to firm them back into place. Am I wasting my time? We were the coldest place in England a few weeks ago - is it the cold that has caused them to shrivel. After I planted them one of the old boys told me he always waits till spring.

I have some more sets of another red onion to sow this spring. My garlic, that was planted at the same time and is in the next row. seems to be fine.

Any advice/comments will be gratefully received.

[Capsid]

I always plant some overwintering onions and they look quite dishevelled after the winter spell. they always come through though and give me a nice early harvest before the maincrop onions. So I wouldn't worry.

[oldie]

Don't want to be negative but Red Baron are not an overwintering type. However, nothing is certain in gardening! I suspect that if they survive they will bolt rather quickly.

[Chef_uk]

My Shakespeare overwintering onions don't look all that great either. I'm sure i said the same last year though and come Summer they provided a better harvest for me than my spring planted sets. If we have had the last of the cold they should pick up pretty quickly.

[horticultural_hobbit]

I think I have electric ones...the sort, not the buzzing with ACDC. And they did, when we had the horrible weather, look a bit worse for wear. Other than a bit of wind burn, they're all right, I think.

[aliveggrower]

Overwintering onions

I think I have electric ones...the sort, not the buzzing with ACDC. And they did, when we had the horrible weather, look a bit worse for wear. Other than a bit of wind burn, they're all right, I think.

Thanks for all your comments, I feel a bit more optimistic now. I've never over wintered them before. Oh, and they were Electric - the Barons are the ones I've still to plant.

[Aberdeenplotter]

to answer your question, the fact that they have a shrivelled appearance isn't anything to worry about. The plant will have used up the "food" within the original bulb and now that it is rooted, it will now grow on taking sustenance from the soil.