over wintering onions

Hi can anyone give me any info about planting onion seeds for over wintering do you plant them outside or inpots in the green house or what ? the instuctions I have just say plant autumn to over winter (about as clear as mud) I hope some of you proper gardeners could give me some advice please

 

I've been wondering the same too for onions and garlic. The ground freezes here from early november until february... not quite sure if thats too extreme.

 

Sorry Madmick,

Thought i'd replied to this one yesterday, must have hit the wrong button.:DOH:

Start the seeds off in trays as they tend to dissapear if sow straight into the ground, slugs, or planted out too soon, pigeons.

They will overwinter fine, even if the ground freezes. They'll just go dormant.

 

Hi madmick.

Just to clarify, these ARE of the 'japanese' variety, yes?

 

Hi Freddy no mate they're not does it make a difference as to when you plant them ? cheers Mick

 

Hi Mick.
As far as I was aware, it's only the Japanese varieties that are suitable for overwintering. These varieties will give you an early crop, but won't store well at all. Indeed, I grew some a couple of years ago, and they only lasted a month before they started rotting off. They ARE useful though just to fill the gap until the main-crop is available. If you have some 'regular' onion seed, these can be sown next march, earlier if you have a greenhouse with a little heat. Of course, I could be totally wrong about sowing 'regular' onion seed now, but it's the first I've heard of it.

Cheers...Freddy.

 

Ziggy, could you add more to this? I'd be interested to know IF in fact one CAN use 'regular' onion seed.


madmick, out of interest, what is the variety called?

Cheers...Freddy.

 

Hi Freddy I have 2 varieties one is Ailsa Craig Prizewinner the other is Ramata Milano sounds Italian that one

 

I planted jap onions couple years ago they did not store well had to throw some away you can buy Radar - Autum Champion and Troy all winter onions plant plant from Sept onwards.

 

Hi Freddy,

I think it was just white lisbons last year, I do tend to throw a few seeds in to fill the gap between the maincrop onions, just sown some red & white stripey type spring onions, will have a look at the name later.

 

Hi Golfer.

I had a quick look around for these, but so far could only find sets. Anyway, thanks for that, I thought it had to be 'japs' for planting/sowing at this time of year. Been having a little think about this, and wondered, wouldn't onions sown now be prone to bolting?

Hiya Mick

I just had a look for those and it seems they indeed can be sown later, in August. Better not hang about Let us know how you get on, I'd be interested to know.

Cheers...Freddy.

 

Thanks for all the info I had a look through some gardening books & googled when to plant onion seeds everything seems to point to febuary & to plant in moduels in the greenhouse temp needs to be between 10 & 12 degreesno higher than 15 or they have a tendancy to bolt Im now on the lookout for some winter variety to cover that hungry gap any sugestions other than jap onions that dont store well Cheers Mick

 

Hiya Mick.

From what I saw, the ones you have should be ok for this purpose. I would suggest though that it's quite late to be sowing. BTW, the one's you have wouldn't be wasted, save them for next year:WINK1: You could maybe try getting hold of some sets? The one's suggested by golfer look good. If you DO get hold of some sets, try to make sure they're heat treated, this will help to stop them bolting.

Cheers...Freddy.