UK: Concerns over late season onion planting

With the “Beast from the East” hitting the UK in early March and then a prolonged cold and wet period for the remainder of March and early April, some growers are now facing an uphill battle to get this year’s crop in the ground.

"We are now in unprecedented territory in terms of late planting and we need the weather to be very kind over the coming months to compensate for the late planting of this year’s crop," explained Tim Elcombe, British Onions Chairman.

Crops on average are usually drilled and planted by mid-March so with potentially some crops going in the ground 6 weeks after this, there is concern as to the potential of the crop.

There is also some concern regarding the crop already planted and drilled as this will have sat in cold wet soils for the last 2 months.

However British onion growers are now working at full speed to get the crop in the ground to satisfy their customer’s needs.

For more information:
British Growers
Jayne.dyas@britishgrowers.org
Tel: +44 1507 353788