Overwintering Onions

[lozza_9]

Hi All

I planted a few Overwintering onions, they are growing well but wondered if they need any protection from the frost we are having at the momment.

Onions are : Radar and Elecrtic.

Thanks
Lorraine

[bramble]

Hi Lozza, i grow them every year and have never protected them. Have never had a problem. Plant radar and a japanese one.

[User Removed]

Hello, I also don't protect my onions so I really do think that they will be fine unprotected

Cheers

[Mrs Dobby]

We've got radar and electric on our plot, and they are doing fine without any protection, so I dont think you need worry lozza!

[Snadger]

If you put a cloche or fleece over a few of them it may give you some earlier onions , but I agree with the others they don't really need it!

[pigletwillie]

As with most overwintering stuff, the cold isnt a problem, its wet boggy ground that causes things to rot.

[lozza_9]

excellent Thank you all

Lozza

[Welshie]

Hi all, hope you all had a lovely Xmas.

Haven't acyually planted my over wintering onions yet - but do plan to do it this week end, 30-31 Dec. Is that too late?

Welshie

[Snadger]

Hi all, hope you all had a lovely Xmas.

Haven't acyually planted my over wintering onions yet - but do plan to do it this week end, 30-31 Dec. Is that too late?

Welshie

Interesting question Welshie!
I'm surprised that they haven't sprouted in storage by now? I think the idea of planting them in autumn is that there is still a little bit of warmth left in the soil so they put down some roots and a little bit of growth before winter sets in!
Planting them in cold soil may mean they just rot, rather than establish?

I personally think you would be better planting them in pots indoors til they get established a bit, or wait til spring and plant the 'normal' spring planted sets in situ.

Sorry no definitive answer, but no doubt another grape may have come across this question before and be able to help!

[SueA]

Hi Welshie, like Snadger I'm not too sure about this but I'd give it a try anyway as the weather isn't as cold as usual at the moment. My onions went in quite late & I'm hoping they'll be O.K., I have got a perforated plastic covering over them but this is more to keep the cats/birds off than to keep them warm!

[nick the grief]

You could try putting them into 4" pots or to help make up a bit of time, cover them with some fleece. I don't think ther is any problem with planting them at the normal time for sets but then you loose the advantage that they have of cropping earlier and ther are probably better one that you could grow.

Another plan might be to pot them up & put them under a cloche ( bit like snadgers suggestion but you won't need ot wory quiet so much about them drying out)

[Stroppy scotte]

Think I over estimated our needs and we will be living on onions this year. Have approx 200 growing at the moment
They certainly haven't needed any protection so far and seem much more advanced than I would have expected at this stage. Has the growing season actually slowed yet? Everything seems to be continuing to grow at tha same rate as they were in October