Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Mahogony on February 28, 2010, 20:33

Title: Should my winter onion sets have sprouted by now?
Post by: Mahogony on February 28, 2010, 20:33

Hi all,
I planted my winter onion sets in mid December and only a few of the them have sprouted so far. Same for my Garlic and shallots which I planted at the same time. I'm in Dublin and it has been exceptionally cold this year. Are they just slow to get going or do I give up on them and dig over the area and use it to plant my spuds?
Thanks.

Title: Re: Should my winter onion sets have sprouted by now?
Post by: bigben on February 28, 2010, 20:54

If it has been as cold in Dublin as it has here then your ground will not be ready for planting spuds yet and you could afford to risk waiting a few weeks before you have to think about digging. Giving advice to somone from Dublin about growing spuds seems to be in the same ball park as grannies and egg sucking! But leaving your spuds a few weeks will not really harm them, I normally use Saint Patricks day but might leave it another week this year.

Title: Re: Should my winter onion sets have sprouted by now?
Post by: Mahogony on February 28, 2010, 21:12

Thanks Bigben,
Yes I would normally use Paddy's day as my guide for spuds but will leave it a couple of weeks this year as the ground is still soaked.
So there might still be hope for the onions?  or are they a lost cause?

Title: Re: Should my winter onion sets have sprouted by now?
Post by: Salmo on February 28, 2010, 21:56

Give the onions a very gentle pull. You should find that they are held firm by roots. A few warmer days will get them moving.

Title: Re: Should my winter onion sets have sprouted by now?
Post by: Mahogony on February 28, 2010, 22:00

Thanks will do that.
Its my first year growing anything other then spuds so I am way out of my depth.
Very excited though

Title: Re: Should my winter onion sets have sprouted by now?
Post by: LivvyW on February 28, 2010, 22:08

Hi,

I planted my onion sets in November last year, and i have only got about a centimetre of growth on some of them, i had a little tug on them a while ago and they have rooted so i reckon with a bit of warmer spell (Pleeeeease) they should take off.

Certainly they will have a head start on sets being planted out now.

Give them a little longer, and a little tug to make you feel better.

The year before last i planted them in September and i had about 5" growth on them by Feb. Will definitly aim for Sept this year. November/Dec a bit late to get a really good head start.

Hope that helps.

Rugby good at the weekend though ;)

Title: Re: Should my winter onion sets have sprouted by now?
Post by: Mahogony on February 28, 2010, 22:16

yey there is hope  :)

Yes the rugby was great, but my nerves are shattered (running for cover)

Title: Re: Should my winter onion sets have sprouted by now?
Post by: Tattie Bogle on February 28, 2010, 22:17

Hello,

I haven't had much luck with winter onions so far, maybe I am planting too late? Should you aim to get them in sooner rather than later so they can grow a bit before the winter?

Title: Re: Should my winter onion sets have sprouted by now?
Post by: MoreWhisky on February 28, 2010, 22:25

Yes i think dec leaving it bit to late . I think the idea is to get them established a little bit before winter sets in.

Title: Re: Should my winter onion sets have sprouted by now?
Post by: LivvyW on March 01, 2010, 17:44

A bit of growth before winter sets in is definitly what worked for me.

Title: Re: Should my winter onion sets have sprouted by now?
Post by: Mahogony on March 01, 2010, 20:29

Well I checked them today and the few I could find had good roots on them and were starting to grow so that's good news. I will leave them alone for a while and give them a chance. I will certainly plant them earlier next year to give them a better start.
Thanks for all replies.