Onion sets planted out today: too early?

[Veggiemite]

Hi, I'm a newbie to this site and only 2nd year gardening.I've just planted centurion onion sets out in the garden. I mean straight from the bag, no planting in pots first or anything. On the packet it said you can plant out from February to May. But since planting them this morning, I've read on a lot of sites that March or April is when they should be planted. Someone gave me these so I'm not sure where they bought them but now I'm wondering if these are sets that are also sold on the continent and feb is too early here (?)
Will they be ok, or will they rot before growing?
If so should i dig em out? (would be easily done)... Or cover with fleece to try to increase temperature?
I'm in belfast by the way
Many thanks
Nick

[Shadylane]

I would think it's a tad early. I sometimes start onion sets off early in trays of compost to give them a head start, but I haven't even bought them yet. If your soil isn't frozen and is workable then they'll probably be ok, although some may disagree. I've put shallots in around this time before...
ETA oh and welcome to the vine

[rhyswales]

Hey

I dont think it's too early. Onions are hardy vegtables and can survive low temps (light frosts). To be 100% I would most likely cover them with a fleece just to keep the frost away.

[arpoet]

Welcome to the mad house, Veggiemite.
If you put your location on your profile it would help us to give better answers.
I always start sets off in mpc in seed trays in the greenhouse to get the roots started. This give the ground time to warm us and in my case, thaw out.

[Dorothy rouse]

Think they'll be ok, they've been selling them in our 'allotment shop' , for few weeks now.

[FlawlessVictory]

I'm going to put sets in modules this week. I think you will be okay but with everything in gardening you have your success and your failures! It only makes you better in the long run.

[Penellype]

Welcome to the forum veggiemite. I always plant my onion sets in February (unless the ground is frozen solid) and I cover them with fleece to keep them warm. I've never had any problems with them rotting, although my veggie plot is very well drained and we probably don't get as much rain here as you would in Ireland. I think you only need to worry if the ground is very wet.

[Lumpy]

Hello Veggiemite - welcome to the Vine.
I put my onions in last Friday. Some straight out of the bag and the rest had been put in pots to give them a bit of a start.
I have not covered them with fleece but put a couple of cloches over them - I will see how they go - but they should be OK

[Veggiemite]

Wow, thanks a million to all for answering!

My actual garden soil isn't very good drainagewise but the onions are in a sort of improvised raised bed full of a mixture of well rotten manure and lots of compost that was left over from last year after I grew brassicas in pots. (Thought might make sense thinking of crop rotation). So I suppose that should drain ok (?) but yep I'd say we get more rain here in belfast than in York

I think I'll leave em in and cover with fleece. I have a big piece of rigid, clear plastic that I could prop up against the fence at an angle, so rain would run down it and not on to beds. I suppose they might even dry the bed out too much. I could even take it on and off sometimes. Anyone any thoughts on this (or my compost n manure rotation logic!)?!

[Bacchus]

Belfast is always about 5 degrees warmer than where I am when it comes to overnight frosts. All big cities seem to be that way so if you are actually in or near the city that's a big help and if your plants are anywhere close to a big wall that will help again too.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Mine haven't been delivered yet.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Mine haven't been delivered yet, ETA early March.

Whoops thick fingers again.

[Veggiemite]

Welcome to the mad house, Veggiemite.
If you put your location on your profile it would help us to give better answers.
I always start sets off in mpc in seed trays in the greenhouse to get the roots started. This give the ground time to warm us and in my case, thaw out.

thanks arpoet, by the way I tried to get access to my profile to put in my location, but it says I don't have authorisation to access or similar. Anyone any ideas? I just tried it again and got the same. Maybe I need to give it a while as I only joined a few days ago...

[veggiechicken]

Yes, give it a while, Veggiemite. Keep posting and try again when you've been around for a bit longer.
Have I said Hello and Welcome yet?
If not, Hello and Welcome

[arpoet]

Onions like manure, so your mixture sems ok to me. Unless snow is forcast i would not cover them.
Use Blood/Fish/Bonemeal as a top dressing between the plants and let that Sweet Irish Rain wash it into the soil.