Having worked away since March, just returned to UK last week - I know onions should of been in the ground by now but would they survive if planted now or should I just cut my losses and accept that I wont have any next summer. I have never planted over wintering onion bulbs this late here in the north-east.
Yes it is rather late..but..I would be tempted to try to grow some under tunnel/cover with some black mulch to keep worst of the weather away and trying to keep soil warm enough for while longer for good root formation. The bulb itself would not grow much anyway even with earlier planting..so if you get them anchored well in and once spring comes they would be well establish and should catch on.
no its not to late , we always go on the in by the shortest day (21 dec) out after the longest so still time and you can plant them in the spring anyway and still get reasonable onions so go for it.
I always get them cheap in the wilkies sale on nov and still have fab onions by august!
x sunloving
Kt..you were talking about winter onions?..As sunloving said summer onions are not problem.
you can always plant them in pots inside and plant out in spring ? :)
KT - I usually grow overwintering sets and they were pants last year and had white rot for the first time ever. This year I started onions from seed in Feb and by July had the best onions ever - its the way to go for me ;D
Interesting that SMP. I had severe white rot this year for the first time.
Bought the sets from Wilko. Is there a lesson there??
???
Hmmm - now you mention, mine also came from Wilko >:(
I had put it down to having topped the bed up with a couple of bags of WEst compost that had loads of shredded wood chippings in it. Over the winter, this bed seemed to be constantly sodden (when not frozen) and I had put that down to the white rot.
Either way, I'm not faffing with sets any more.
I've just planted mine out today... but they have had three weeks in cells............. :)
Plant them out but cover with mesh or fleece as the birds :o will have them out again.
Our second lot were only put in last week.
Weather permitting there's still time. ;D ;D ;D
Saddad, what did they do wrong (in cells). ;D ;D
;D ;D ;D.
I agree with Goodlife. Give them some cover. It will also stop the birds from picking at them.
At least they will have a chance to get the roots established a little for an early start next year. ;)
I just planted out my onion seedlings the other day (day off!! allotment on a weekday, nothing better :) :))
However, this is my first year growing onions from seed, so I can't say I'm offering advice. Just saying, we're in the same boat! There's always spring for sowing, if these don't work. :)
I'm heartened that saddad's only just planted his out. I always think of saddad as someone who does things 'properly.' (saddad if that's not true, don't tell me!) ;D
I'm going to take the advice about covering them, thanks goodlife and denzle. It's v mild atm, but by Dec or Jan will start freezing.