planting out onions

[jacob]

When do you all plant out your onion seedlings? The stuff I've read (here and elsewhere) seems a bit inconsistent. I've tried early May in the past, but I'm not really sure why.

My seedling are looking pretty big and strong in their tiny modules at the moment (almost as big as the October planted sets, which are being pathetic) and I'm tempted to put them out now, rather than hold off for two or three weeks.

[Alison]

I usually plant mine out end of April and am hoping on doing it next weekend.

[Shadylane]

I put mine out a couple of weeks ago I think. Still have some more to plant though - gonna stick some in today, though I probably shouldn't as it's pretty warm and sunny here but I need to clear some space. I too get confused with the info regarding onions. They tell you to keep them frost free but if you sow them in Jan/Feb that's impossible unless you have a heated greenhouse - then they tell you they're hardy and to plant out in early spring when there's still risk of frost. I've had some red barons in the ground since last autumn and they seem fine despite being buried under over a foot of snow all winter.

[arpoet]

I planted mine (400 of em) out last week. They are all from sets as i have given up on growing em from seed. I start them off in compost filled modules in the greenhouse then put them into the cold frame once they look strong and harden them off for a week or two.

[zazen999]

I've planted out a large batch already....and the ones that were overwintered have had a hoe, a feed and a water to start bulking them out. They have really come on in the last 2 weeks.

[Mrs Dobby]

Overwintering sets (300 of them) have been on the plot since October / November / December, the onions from seed have been hardened off and are partially planted (80 or so in, another 200 or so to go in yet, probably over the next week or so).

First year we've had good growth from the seed sown onions, in the past they've not done too well at all!

[Kristen]

I've planted mine out, I don't think frost is an issue is it?

I aim for the 2-3 leaf stage; the ones I sowed in January have been at 3 leaf for a couple of weeks, and the leaf tips were getting yellow already, and had a lot of coiled-root, whereas the ones sown a bit later had very little coiled root. (I straighten/untangle the coiled root and plant it vertically, and get the "bulb" about 1/2" below the surface)

[jacob]

So, in conclusion, the wisdom on the vine is to ignore the weather and plant them out when they are big enough.

I've started hardening the off today then.

Thanks all!