Onion sets

[gordoner]

Prior to the recent snowfall I planted my onion sets thinking I was getting my timing right. Because my garden is on a hillside the snowdrifts have completely covered all the raised beds. Has anyone had experience of this in previous years and will the sets survive

[Kirk]

Mine went in 10 days ago, more or less, and have been covered and frozen. They are managing to stick the odd shoot above the surface.

Shouldn't really do much harm, they are a bi-annual plant so as such would grow one year, over winter and flower the next. Therefore a winter is just something they take in their stride and have actually evolved to handle. Think we panic a bit about plants. They have been on this planet a huge amount of time more then we have and have developed/evolved accordingly.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Red Onion sets for some reason are more likely to be affected but any stress, i.e. shortage of water or extremes of temperature, high or low can cause onions to bolt. I would personally sit tight with fingers crossed and hope/pray that they will be ok.

[rustylady]

Kirk and Gordoner - neither of you say whereabouts you are. Can you add your locations to your profiles please?

As to the onions, only time will tell. Let's hope the snow melts soon and temperatures rise to normal.

[Chippy Minton]

I bought mine from B&M this year (a fine north-western establishment). 300 sets for £5 (3 varieties, 100 sets of each). Sets much MUCH smaller than the ones I've had from T&M et al. Went in 2 weeks ago when spring almost seemed to be on the way. The landshare is up a hill so will be freezing and covered in snow. Being so small not sure they'll survive, we'll see how they get on but at that price

[Dotty Sarah]

I planted a few sets in the garden before christmas and they'd only grown a little before they were buried in snow a couple of months ago. They seem to be doing fine and have definitely had a growth spurt since but only time will tell if they come to anything.

[solway cropper]

If you plant some in small pots or cell trays and keep them protected, such as in a greenhouse or on a window sill they'll get a head start and can be put out when the weather improves. I never put all my eggs (or onions) in one basket and have overwintered onions on the plot, along with some I put in early March and covered with fleece. Then there's the seed grown ones in the greenhouse and sets in cell trays. I love onions and always hedge my bets in order to get a decent crop.