Topic: Onions bolting - anything to be done?

[froglets]

Hi All,

Just got back from the lottie after giving it a really good soaking for the second time this week & noticed a few of my onions are just starting to bolt.

Is there anything I can do now or are they past saving?  Will pulling off the forming flower heads make any difference?  Can I use the onions or will they be stringy and bitter like leeks are when they're bolting?

Thanks

[Stevens706]

Cut the flower stalk off, leave to grow on but use these first as they will have a thick neck and won’t keep.

[Tee Gee]

I presume you mean 'Japanese onions' ? (Autumn sown)

If so just cut the seed pod off!

I have found no difference in taste after bolting.

Usually you get less onion for your money i.e. generally they have a hardcore right through the bulb! The layers around the core taste of normal onion!

[froglets]

Sadly it's the main crop onions.  They are further ahead though than my autumn sown Japanese onions.  Most of them succumbed to the weather and the small furry, probably starving when the ice and snow hit, mammals that have tunneled under that bed.

It has been very dry and windy here and although we try not to water unecessarily, being on clay, this past drought has caught us out a bit.

[Tee Gee]

Wow! maincrop!! were they from setts or seeds?

I think you have answered your own question;

we try not to water

Onions shoud never be allowed to run short of moisture!

[froglets]

Ther were from sets & yes, I know why they've bolted, but we were caught out by just how dry the soil is, normally we're making sure all out ditches are clear so we can keep the water table low. Unfortunately work and study and family committments don't always tie in with the weather patterns.  As it is I was up there over lunch teetering about in a pencil skirt and high heels doing my best Margo Leadbetter!

[cornykev]

My Jap onions are bolting, the red started off first now the yellows are following suit but the yelllows are a fair size so I'm not too worried about them.  ;D ;D ;D

[saddad]

Our red overwintered are starting to bolt... the normal ones seem OK so far...  :-X

[Tee Gee]

The recent dry spell seems to have caused a few problems this year e.g. onions & rhubarb bolting for example.

Then there is the cold and poor light which has held back plants.

But on a good note; I have seen my stuff come on leaps and bounds in the  last week to ten days!

.........and about time too!!

[javahart]

As it is I was up there over lunch teetering about in a pencil skirt and high heels doing my best Margo Leadbetter!

Now THAT would be worth seeing  :-*