So When are You Planting Sets ?

Last year I planted my onion sets on the 7th and 14th of March , also planted my spring onions then. I had planned , with the poor weather , to plant later i.e. this weekend . My containers now have 2" of snow on top Realistically I think after Easter may be best , say the first weekend in April . What are the other set growers doing ?

 

I already put my shallot sets in the ground on the only decent day we had in march. Don't think they will do very well now as a result.

 

If the ground's not suitable for planting by next weekend, I'm going to sort through all my sets for ones showing signs of sprouting and will plant equal amounts of each variety in modular trays, 70mm 'peat' pots (48 for £1 from Poundland) and 70mm polythene flexi-pots, then at least I'll learn something from the exercise and know what's best should we get this sort of March weather again.

 

I potted up shallot sets about 3 weeks ago, they are rooting quite nicely. Not setting a foot out doors until spring finally installs.

 

I nearly planted mine out last week, glad I didn't now, will be holding off till the sun comes back.

 

I need it to warm up, but I also need a fortnight of dry weather, just so the ground gets usable, its too wet at the moment.
If I end up planting in May it wont be the first time.

 

I planted some in the ground a week or so ago, under a little polly tunnel, I also started some off in pots in the grow house, not too sure how there going to turn out, so if anyone can tell me what I'm to expect that would be great!

 

They make root growth first, followed by a green shoot. Usually have to replant a few as either the roots push them out of the ground, or the birds pull em up to have a look at them

When they are bulbed up in the summer, Badgers will pull em up to play football with. (They don't eat them)

 

I've posted this link before, but it's worth repeating - I follow Monty's method with my shallots. Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00flzlx

I also tried Monty's beetroot method in 2011 in a friends garden with great success - to be honest I didn't think it would work, but I was very pleasantly suprised.

a-a

 

I planted some onion sets in modules at the end of March in the GH . I am planting some more outside this week , I presume it is wet and warm enough now ?
I also now want a 12 ft x 30 ft long greenhouse like Montys in the video above , you don't see him struggling for every square inch of space like the rest of us

 

Planted my onion sets on the weekend, spent the last two days shaking my fist at the blackbirds from the kitchen window as they pulled them all out.

Now remembered why I bought some netting...

 

I always throw some netting over them to keep the pesky birds off.