[sianb]

Hi all I brought some white and red onion sets and planted them on the allotment  today.have I put them in to early  thanks Sian

[gazza975526570]

Mine will generally go in March/April dependent upon how the plot is getting on

[Son of Steptoe]

Shallotts and garlic go in now, onions usually go in march. Make sure you cover them with netting otherwise the birds will pull them out and pray for the weather to remain mild and dry.

[Salmo]

They will probably grow but if we have any Winter they may bolt to seed.

March/April is the usual time.

[Higster]

I'am also taking a gamble, my are in, but under a poly tunnel

[gazza975526570]

I'am also taking a gamble, my are in, but under a poly tunnel

Hope you dont mind me asking but what's the rush? Much better to plant things at their optimum time

[Higster]

Being new to all this, I'am following some other chaps on my allotment down in the west country, and perhaps I'm over eager to grow

[Yorkie]

Hope you dont mind me asking but what's the rush? Much better to plant things at their optimum time

It happens every year  

People are keen to get growing, those of us who have already learnt from experience explain why sowing dates are important (light levels and planting out temperatures for a start), and people are happy to ignore the advice and give it a go anyway.  And then often come back on here 6 weeks later when the predicted consequences occur.

The warm winter we've had so far has introduced a false sense of security too.

I'm not aiming this comment at sianb in particular, just answering the generalised question!

[gazza975526570]

Hope you dont mind me asking but what's the rush? Much better to plant things at their optimum time

It happens every year  

People are keen to get growing, those of us who have already learnt from experience explain why sowing dates are important (light levels and planting out temperatures for a start), and people are happy to ignore the advice and give it a go anyway.  And then often come back on here 6 weeks later when the predicted consequences occur.

The warm winter we've had so far has introduced a false sense of security too.

I'm not aiming this comment at sianb in particular, just answering the generalised question!

Agree totally - totally understand people want to get going and i know someone who has already planted runner beans. How they will get them to the plot when they are 6 foot high i have no idea!!!

[gobs]

 

Nohow.

[m1ckz]

ive just put about 60 sets in compostost in a seed tray in the cols conservatory ,just to get the roots going,some told me this was a good idea lol   , we are sooooo fickle arnt we lol

[DD.]

I totally agree with Yorkie's comments above.

If the weather returns only to what is expected at this time of year, a lot of people are in for a nasty shock.

Remember, we could well be still 4 months away from the last frosts, maybe even more as we had a sharp frost in June a couple of years ago that caused a lot of damage.

(Comment made about early sowings in general, not necessarily this particular instance).

[sunshineband]

and the thought of six foot high runner bean plants made me chuckle.

Mine are firmly in their packets 

[stompy]

It is this mild weather thats causing the confusion for new and experienced growers alike!

I've been growing my own for a good few years now (over a decade) and even im tempted and would probably give a few things a go if i hadn't of learned the hard way years back!

Even with cloches we need at least another 4 to 5 weeks before we think about planting out in the open plot!

Like DD said i think we all got caught in some way or other by that june frost a few years back, all you can do is try and do your best and hope nature is good to us  

P.S. im iching to get started 

[DD.]

P.S. im iching to get started 

Have you tried a hydrocortisone cream?