Is it too late for planting onion/ shallot sets???

[adjohnson1971]

I bought my onion and shallot sets for over wintering, back in September. Due to work committments and the shockingly bad, wet weather I've not been able to venture onto the plot to sow them. Is it too late (should we have a few days of dry weather!!!!! Yes I'm trying not to laugh as I type!!!) to get them into the ground. I see a few sets have started to throw up green shoots, but other than that they seem fairly firm and in good health.

[Jeanied]

Why don't you put them in pots for the time being and under a bit of shelter somewhere - coldframe, cloche, plastic covering? Then plant out in spring.

[Flummery]

I'd get them in if they are shooting. They will be autumn varieties so I wouldn't leave them till spring. They've got 2 chances!

[esrikandan]

Get them in pots - I've had to do the same due to being too busy or it's too wet. Panicked and now I have Garlic and Onions in pots on the patio.

[pipkins]

How big do the pots need to be?

[chriscross1966]

How big do the pots need to be?

Not enormous.... 3" should work OK if it's only going to be for a couple of weeks, I started my "oddball" onions and garlic off in 5" pots but that was mostly becuase that's what I had lying around on the plot...... If you use 3" you are making a promise to put them into the ground once the roots start coming out of the bottom in a meaningful way though...

You could plant them four to an 8" pot.....



chrisc

[zazen999]

How big do the pots need to be?

Depends on how many you've got.

If it's only for a few weeks, you can put them in shoulder to shoulder.

[pipkins]

Depends on how many you've got.

If it's only for a few weeks, you can put them in shoulder to shoulder.

400

[moola]

I'd put them in. I wish I had put mine in later - my onion/garlic shoots are huge - it's been so warm. If we get a a heavy winter then I imagine they'll be ruined - although I am sticking an enviromesh frame on them this week to (hopefully) help.

[moola]

400

your poor back!!!

[zazen999]

400

I'd get them into about 4 seed trays.

What I do these days; is to use those pot trays that you get from garden centres [about 21 ish holes that the pots get transported to the centres in] - they are free from the centres as they don't recycle them. Then chuck some compost in them, pop 3-4 onions in each hole to start them off and then transplant once I have space. It also means I can leave them at the lottie rather than take up space at home.

I'm also growing some in the greenhouse from seed with one seedling in each hole. Marvelous!

[pipkins]

Thanks Zazen,

Bought some 5 x 15 cells 6.5cm(holes)

Couple of sets per hole

[zazen999]

Thanks Zazen,

Bought some 5 x 15 cells 6.5cm(holes)

Couple of sets per hole

they won't be there long, so as many in there as you need to fit - they only grow the roots for a while so shoulder to shoulder if needs be

[HayleyB]

I put in my last 100 on Sunday, the first 100 are shooting nicely next to the garlic which is slightly ahead. The second 100 are setting roots - I know this cause the Bladdy cat dug a few up hopefully the last 100 will have a little longer to set some roots especially since I still haven't had a frost here....

[piskieinboots]

I've still got some to go in - IF it EVER stops raining, they will have to take their chances