Topic: Dreaded spearhead.

[northener]

Just got back from lottie onoins doing really well i thought. But almost half of them have got the spearhead on, looks like they are bolting. What do folk do with them? Was thinking of pulling them out and putting  lettuce in their place.

[saddad]

Break them out, eat them. Use the onions that bolted first... but they will stand in the ground for now, unless it is very wet...  :-\

[delboy]

I'm getting used to autumn sown sets bolting - I use them to make onion chutney.

I don't think that once the bolting has started they will grow any bigger, but unless it chucks it down repeatedly you can leave them in the ground for a while.

[Suzanne]

I pull them up and use them - usually quite mild so very nice in salads - including the flower stem.

[Kea]

Yes I planted half my shallots in the autumn and they have bolted, I have nipped all the flowers of as they appear but I think I'll stick to spring planting.

[oliveoyl_25]

Some of mine are doing the same... they've only been in the ground for about 6 weeks so aren't really big enough to eat. Maybe I'll let them go to flower... something for the bees at least.  ::)

[Digeroo]

Mine are going too.  I thought that sets were treated somehow to prevent this from happening.  Red ones seem particularly affected.

[tonybloke]

red will bolt if planted before the spring exuinox ( mar 22nd ish)