Over wintering in the greenhouse?

**Alison** · 06-11-2015, 10:05 AM

Why don't you want to plant anything until spring? Always best to get things in the ground if you can.

**vixylix** · 06-11-2015, 01:49 PM

I am starting my onions and leeks from seeds indoors in modules and will plant out as the weather starts to get warmer.

I'm not sure how easily you could do this with onion sets though - I dont know how much they'd like being moved.

I grew garlic in pots this year so you could start those in your greenhouse for now and move the pots outside come springtime. Just make sure each clove has enough room to fill out! Alternatively you could plant them in growbags in the greenhouse and then just move the whole lot outside in springtime?

Just a few ideas - someone who knows what they're talking about will provide some proper advice shortly

**veggiechicken** · 06-11-2015, 02:28 PM

I'm not someone who knows what they're taking about!!
There are distinct types of onion and garlic. Some are planted as sets/cloves before the cold winter sets in, others are planted after new year. A cold spell is beneficial to some varieties.
Another complication is that some onions are started from seed.
"Overwintering" leeks would have been in the ground and growing strongly now. They're sown in the spring.
So, you can still plant some in spring, but. if I were you, I'd plant some sets/cloves now and another sort in spring.

**Jungle Jane** · 06-11-2015, 02:36 PM

I've started 5 onions off in pots & I put some in a raised bed,I am worried the ones in the raised bed environment,they might rot with too much rain? (This is my first year with onion sets). Both areas the onions have green shoots,same looking,if I see roots at the bottom of the pot,I'l pot on. They grow prize onions by starting them off in pots I think?

**astraman1** · 06-11-2015, 02:50 PM

we used to start onions off in big tomatoe trays (what you stand your pots in) early march and let them get a head start then plant them out once the green shoots are about 2 or 3 inches tall also stopped the birds pulling out the bulbs when planted

garlic needs a cold spell outdoors to split the clove to form its bulb as it grows

leeks we have always started them off late february in a deep tray like an icecream tray and grew them in that till may in green house then palnted them out you can easily seperate them by soaking the compost in water

**Snadger** · 06-11-2015, 04:45 PM

All manor of kales and cabbages can be grown indoors during the winter. Garlic and japanese onions will relish the extra protection.My show leek plantlets will also be nestled there along with my chrysanthemum stools.
This year i'm going to try The Sutton dwarf beans as well as all the aforementioned. My greenhouses and polytunnel are fuller in winter nthan they are in summer.

**Aberdeenplotter** · 06-11-2015, 04:51 PM

Originally posted by Alison View Post

Why don't you want to p,ant anything until spring? Always best to get things in the ground if you can.

psst Alison, we have winter between now and spring and unless plants get a head start i.e. overwintering onions planted outside before now, the winter weather could be the death of them.

The winter before last, the back end of the year weather was awful up here and I started off my overwintering onions in cellpacks in the greenhouse and planted out in a mild spell later. Yes, I had to harden them off before planting but I had my best ever return from that crop.

**Alison** · 06-11-2015, 05:37 PM

Originally posted by Aberdeenplotter View Post

psst Alison, we have winter between now and spring and unless plants get a head start i.e. overwintering onions planted outside before now, the winter weather could be the death of them.

The winter before last, the back end of the year weather was awful up here and I started off my overwintering onions in cellpacks in the greenhouse and planted out in a mild spell later. Yes, I had to harden them off before planting but I had my best ever return from that crop.

Just thought it was a strange comment that the OP hoped not to plant anything out until spring like they were crossing their fingers they wouldn't need to as oppose to just making a decision to provide extra protection. Maybe I read too much into the words.

**Jungle Jane** · 06-11-2015, 05:53 PM

It seems like the manure is the reason for not wanting to plant the onions in the ground,unless the manure is being put down in January which would then smother everything?

**bramble** · 06-11-2015, 10:30 PM

My onion sets are out in the open ground now for the past three weeks or thereabouts.
Electric and, Senyshu. My garlic is also out.
Both are growing well and seem to be established.
I have two more lots in modules and may keep them in the greenhouse until the spring just to make a comparison.
All were planted at the same time.

**Amandaod** · 07-11-2015, 12:46 PM

Manure is being put down in the next week

reason I said is I hoped to manure the whole thing, plus I genuinely thought it might be best for them due to the amount of rain and how cold it is, I thought stuff might rot? Newbie here so that might be nonsense. Also I havent planned where I want everything for my first year yet and hoped to have it all organised before throwing things in

So I would be okay to plant things in the cold greenhouse like onions, leeks and garlic to plant out when the weather turns a bit early next year? Sorry if these are stupid questions, I know some things need the cold so would the greenhouse be an okay temperature as it isn't heated?

Thank you so much for all the replies!

**astraman1** · 07-11-2015, 02:08 PM

onions yes plant them in green house

garlic not sure if the green house would be cold enough but if in pots you can bring them outside

leeks i think its too early yet if you plant them now they will most likely bolt

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