overwintering onions - can they be planted in spring ?

[Gail-M]

Hi,

the overwintering onions are reduced at Focus. red Electric or white Radar.

does anyone know if they can be kept and planted out in the spring?

its too late and wet in Scotland to plant now.


Thanks Gail :)

[Gail-M]

[Clayhithe]

As I understand overwintering onions (? Japanese onions) they should be planted (sown) in mid-August and then harvested next summer.

[PurpleHeather]

We got some reduced after Christmas a few years ago and planted them. They produced small onions which started to go to seed before I thought they were big enough to harvest

I was told that 'nature's timer' in onions will make them follow their natural  course with reproduction.

Which is why I make sure I use my winter onions stored for cooking first.

[chriscross1966]

You could get them in pots and plant them out in a mild spell....I tend to avoid sets  though I have a few in this year as my seed-sown ones took a long time to come through.... I'll probably use a lot of them green as the space will be needed by courgettes, so harvest a small patch in the middle, plant ther courgette in the gap then harvest away from the courgette to increase the gap... by the time the courgette hits full size you've harvested the onions....


chrisc

[Psi (Pronounced 'Si'!)]

i think they'd keep wont they?  I planed mine in oct/Nov so i expect theyd be ok going in march wouldnt they?

[chriscross1966]

i think they'd keep wont they?  I planed mine in oct/Nov so i expect theyd be ok going in march wouldnt they?

Not really.... they're expecting different growth conditions.... it's be like planting out a spring cabbage in May..... you might get some greens but I doubt it would ball up for you.....

chrisc

[Robert_Brenchley]

Use them as spring onions. They'll do for that.

[chriscross1966]

Use them as spring onions. They'll do for that.

good point..... if they're really cheap then that's a great use and they'll beat the spring-sown seed to a crop.....

chrisc

[Digeroo]

I bought some red ones last week which said plant until end of November and since it was only a week overdue I am hoping they will be ok.  Like the idea of eating them as spring onions.  With this in mind I might buy some more. 

I have used them right round the edge of my carrot bed to deter the carrot root fly so any crop of onion will be a bonus.

[campanula]

No, not really. They will be dry and withered and you will be annoyed with yourself. Also, they do not store well. Wait and get some next year - sometimes saving a few pence is not worth it in the long run.

[jimtheworzel]

if it says on the lable plant in winter , then do what it says, ...PLANT IN WINTER!!?    GRURR

[Robert_Brenchley]

I've never had any success at all with them as bulb onions unless they went in in early autumn. But you could still plant them in containers and use them as green onions.