Over wintering advice

[chris]

I'm late getting my over winter broadies, onions and garlic in- all module sown.

Had a frost last night- there are clumps of frozen soil but I've managed to work one bed to a reasonable tilth.

Reckon I'd be ok to put the above I today? Should I fleece for a couple of days?

Thanks

[VirginVegGrower]

The soil should be reasonably warm underneath, yes? Put your hand in it. Have you had them hardened off in their modules, otherwise transition from greenhouse to allotment might shock. I suppose with broadies they don't matter so much - resowable. I would bung the garlic in fast and AP would be able to guide you on the onions. Mine are not fleece covered.

[Thelma Sanders]

They were grown in modules, but where were they grown?
I they were already outside, I'd just plant them and leave them to it.
If they were in a cold frame, I'd give them a bit of mollycoddling with a fleece for a while.

[chris]

I grew them outside - I decided to just bung them in, in the end!

Figured it's worth a shot

Thanks

[VirginVegGrower]

Shouldn't be a shock then. Think you'll be OK. We need AP's sage advice on onions...has he the thyme?!

[BarleySugar]

If they were outside in modules they will probably have warmer roots in the ground than in the modules as it's been pretty mild up until now and a larger area and depth takes longer to cool down I would think. Mind you depends on how sheltered too, the winds forecast for Monday might be a bit hard to take.

[Aberdeenplotter]

No way would I be planting into the ground with frozen clumps in it if they had been stated off inside. In that case, I'd have been for keeping them in the modules until there is a milder spell again and even then would cover them with fleece after you plant them out. The idea with over wintering onions is to get them planted before winter sets in.

In this case though, they were started off outside and should be relatively accustomed to colder conditions. They will suffer if left in the modules as there will be insufficient insulation against the cold so on balance, best in the ground.

Plant them earlier next year though

[chris]

Yeah, I'd planned on getting them in as soon as they were 'grass' like, but as with all things being under the thumb meant that I had to do some work in the house rather than get down the lottie!