Bit confused about onions

I hope it's not too warm in that cupboard, otherwise you will end up with long straggly white chits. It's very early to be buying seed spuds as has been touched on in other threads. They will need to be somewhere cool - just frost free, much warmer and they'll be away like a rocket.

Likewise with the onion sets, anywhere slightly warm & they will be away. I won't be getting either of these for a month or so. Try & keep them cool, I plant mine in March, but I suspect you may have to risk planting a little earlier unless you can stop them shooting.

If they do start to go too early, I'd be tempted to put them in a tray of compost, so they can at least make a bit of root and absorb moisture. This will help stop them drying out & going wizened.

Thank you both, that is very helpful.  I won't buy so early next year.  (I panicked I might not be able to get what I wanted if I left it too long).

The cupboard is cold (it has a bare concrete floor) but I won't take chances.

I think my parents' conservatory might be ideal for moving these to.  It's not heated at all, is lovely and light and it is cold but is obviously frost free.  Need to ask them...

Our garage is lovely and cold but it's also pitch black. 

If the onions do end up having to be planted out early, I guess I'll put them under fleece so they have some sort of protection.  Hope I keep them back until March though with the methods you suggest.

Many thanks, Penny 

D'oh. 

As the dalek said climbing off the compost bin.