know your onions

[Bill HH]

I intend to plant winter Radar onion sets (and garlic cloves) but having looked it up I am getting conflicting advice regarding the best planting time. Some say September. but others are talking Chistmas. Can anyone help?
Also is there any advantage in starting them off in pots in the GH
I have already ordered them so if its too early to plant what is the best way to store them until planting time. Finaly are winter planted sets less likely to bolt than spring sown varieties.

Bill

[chris]

The best time (apparently) for overwintering onions is sowing them on /around the 18th of August. It might differ for different onions (I've always overwintered Paris White with good results), but that's from seed. Have never overwintered any sets.

[Kirk]

Seems that mid August is generally referred to as the earliest that people plant them out. September seems the most common however.

I have planted sets out in Oct and Nov but never had a great deal of success. Never had that much success with onions anyway.

Problem of planting too early is that the onion then counts the growth as the first year, so go to seed in the next year - it being to them year 2. Somewhat of a balance.

My overwintering onion seeds went in 2 days ago.

[Tripmeup]

I always plant mine in October... Think it was October 18th last year.. Had great crop this year..

[WendyC]

Mine generally go in mid September. Excellent crop this year. Not sure when they'll go in this year as I haven't managed to find a garden centre selling them yet. Not worth doing an online order as I only want one pack!

[WPG]

Planted my onions in mid October last year, with very good results.

Bit off topic, but also in the allium family, I bought half a dozen boxes of drumsticks (allium sphaerocephalum) from the garden centre in January -they were selling them off for 10p a box. I stuck them in, didn't really think they'd survive as it was so late for planting alliums, but they've been spectacular all summer (and covered in bees).

[Creemteez]

I've been told that onion seed is traditionally sown on the shortest day of the year (indoors -gentle heat) with a view to harvesting on the longest. I think that might possibly be where your confusion about Autumn/Winter plantings is occurring. Someone put me right if I've been misinformed!!!!!

[WendyC]

Back from garden centre no onion sets. Getting them in in December. I did point out that was a bit late.