Autumn Onions not doing too well :(

[MarkHackwell]

I planted quite a few onion sets during the autumn and also some onion plants and they were all winter hardy however they all seem to be struggling. Anyone got any ideas of what I could do? Im thinking of taking them up and just replanting the space with ones from the spring instead as they look a mess at the moment

[Aberdeenplotter]

I think your expectations may be a wee bit high Mark. The best you can expect at this time of year is a good root base and a touch of green up top. Once the soil warms up they will start motoring

[WendyC]

When you say struggling, what do you mean? As AP said perhaps you are expecting too much at this point of the year. I give mine a bit of a boost with some pelleted chicken manure once the weather warms up and they start to grow.

[Tomatoe]

Can you post a picture? i planet a few in Autumn and they only have 2 inch of green above soil at the moment if that helps you decide?

[lottie dolly]

They only get the roots established,and a few green shoots before the winter sets in,the bulb goes soft and gives the impression ti's rotting,just leave them be and keep weeds down,when the weather warms up,you will be suprised at just how fast they will grow,in the past i have had the odd few whose green tops vanished,just to regrow again,

[Lamboluke]

They only get the roots established,and a few green shoots before the winter sets in,the bulb goes soft and gives the impression ti's rotting,just leave them be and keep weeds down,when the weather warms up,you will be suprised at just how fast they will grow,in the past i have had the odd few whose green tops vanished,just to regrow again,

As the sets I planted autumn last year were the first ever vegetables Ive tried to grow....naturally I've become a bit curious/impatient so I pulled one of the bulbs a few weeks ago to have a look. I have a good bit of greenery above each bulb so I knew something had gone right but as you say the bulb looked mushy and I felt like throwing the towel in as I thought I'd cocked it up.
Thankfully Ive read your post before pulling the lot up and I look forward to the spring and summer sun to get them back into life.
Cheers

[lottie dolly]

As the sets I planted autumn last year were the first ever vegetables Ive tried to grow....naturally I've become a bit curious/impatient so I pulled one of the bulbs a few weeks ago to have a look. I have a good bit of greenery above each bulb so I knew something had gone right but as you say the bulb looked mushy and I felt like throwing the towel in as I thought I'd cocked it up.
Thankfully Ive read your post before pulling the lot up and I look forward to the spring and summer sun to get them back into life.
Cheers

Thats great,saved of your produce,it is also usual to have some fail,as wendy c said,you could also give a boost to them

[MarkHackwell]

Here is a photo which was taken earlier today



Here is a photo which was taken earlier today

[WendyC]

Looks about right for this time of year.

[MarkHackwell]

It looks as if I am going to have quite a few gaps though

[Aberdeenplotter]

sow some french marigolds in a few weeks and grow them on to plant where there are gaps. Marigolds are ideal as companion plants with onions keeping the onion root fly at bay.