Winter onions

[Fair Weather 33]

Yehhhhhh

I have just received my first order of over winter onions, and am skipping about like a kid who has been left a sweet shop. . Any suggestions as when to plant as the instructions say early autumn (and that felt about 6 weeks ago, temp yesterday 7 degrees, no joke ). Also is there anything special I have to do to the ground .

Shall go celebrate some more for now. He he He

[sally wright]

Dear Fair Weather,
I usually plant when the first frost for my area is due. For the Cambridge area this is around the end of October and I get good results. This stops them from getting too big before the winter sets in and reduces the incidence of bolting (going to seed).
Regards Sally Wright.

[Monika]

I suppose we live about half way between you two, and I always plant our overwintering onions and garlic in early October. This year they will be planted in the plot where we have just taken out the courgette and marrow plants, so the ground was well manured last winter. I will now fork it over, remove any weeds and then let it settle before planting the onions Senshyu and garlic Solent Wight in October. They will not be covered or be fed with anything until next spring when they really start growing. Then I usually give them special onion fertiliser (available from garden centres and seeds catalogues).

Hope that helps, FW.

[Fair Weather 33]

Hi there sally wright and Monika,

Thanks very much for the advice. I shall try to contain my excitement for now. I have a terrible habit of getting something and having to plant right away . (had not thought about them getting too big before winter ).

[Monika]

Just a PS to my posting above - I do give them some protection but not against the elements, just against the birds: I cover them with wire netting to stop the birds pulling out the sets/cloves.

[Fair Weather 33]

Ta Monika

Had totally not thought about the birds.