Why are my red onions bolting?

[kcarlisle]

Does anyone know why my red onions are bolting?  I have a bed with a row of garlic, a row of shallots, 2 rows of white onions and 2 rows of red onions.  So far only one row of red onions is bolting.  I have no idea why!  Last year the whole bed bolted but I think that was because I planted very early and they got too cold.  This year I planted later and there haven't been any harsh frosts .. so I'm a bit confused!  :-\

[kcarlisle]

[growmore]

Red onion sets have a tendency to bolt..Some on our lotty plot have given over growing them ..They sow seeds for red onions  even a few of  these tend to bolt .I found the red onion sets for overwintering were better..
cheers ..Jim

[Scoobys plot]

The red onion sets I buty (Red Baron) are heat treated by the supplier.  This is apparently to prevent bolting.  Sowed two rows last year and not one bolted.  This year have two rows and no signs of bolting yet (fingers crossed)

[Robert_Brenchley]

I only grow white onions, and every year I get an annoying number trying to bolt. Since the hot weather started they're really going overboard with it.

[Svea]

i planted overwintering sets - electra i think - which did very well so far. three tried to bolt - i am now using them up fresh - the rest have now keeled over and hopefully will start dying back now - i need the space!!!

[OliveOil]

sorry to sound stupid - but what is bolting?

[growmore]

Hi O O. Bolting means going to seed .cheers Jim

[chuff]

hi everyone I have a couple of red barons bolting, well i presume there bolting they have a flower head on them, is there anyway of stopping them from bolting

[Trixiebelle]

Mine have bolted too - both red and white.

Once they've bolted can you leave them in the ground or do you have to lift them?

[keef]

Mine have bolted too - both red and white.

Once they've bolted can you leave them in the ground or do you have to lift them?

Break off the seed heads as soon as possible - and they might keep, but probably not as long as ones the hav'nt bolted.

[Trixiebelle]

Thanks Keef  ;D

[Rosyred]

Can you use the seeds for next year?

[growmore]

Yes you can use the seed for next year ..Cheers Jim...

[skateboard]

In the slightly chillier north we have later bolting onions. We're trying to stave off harvesting by taking out the middle two green stems. Any other suggestions.

[antipodes]

almost all my red ones bolted, they are very small too. I might try seed next year (these were sets).
yet the brown onions and echalotes from sets have done well???

[Deb P]

I am a big fan of 'Electric' red onion sets....I've grown them the the past two years and they have not bolted at all. Just harvested some on Saturday as they 'went over' a couple of weeks ago, they are now drying out nicely! ;D

[Fork]

My reds are not bolting.....they are just not growing.

They were planted out at the same time as my other onions which are growing nicely.....the reds are hardly bigger than they were when the sets were planted!

[Plot69]

I planted two types of sets, Sturon and Red Barron, all planted at the same time. Virtually all the Red Barron have bolted, that's a kilo of sets, the Sturon are positively giants and show no signs of slowing yet. I shan't be growing R/B again that's for sure.

When an onion bolts, the flower stem is hollow right down through the bulb to the roots. Pinching the flower head off allows water and rain to get in and they tend to rot. I pull them and eat then ASAP.

I've also grown some Mammoth Giant from seed this year, my first attempt at onions from seed. They are certainly living up to their name. I know giant show types onions don't keep too well but they attract plenty of comments and talking points  and they're great to look at.

I'm going to grow all my onions from seed next year.

[loopyloulou]

my onions, red and white, arent fattening up either and the red that are growing are bolting too, guess seeds are a better bet?? i thought iddone ok buying sets and planting start of march, ho hum! does anybody feed theyres? i havent, i feel a bit guilty now, i did pull 2 and pull them apart 2 check for the pest theyve been on about but no sign, theyre just grumpy and lazy, siigh, stooopid weather weve been having....

[Uncle Joshua]

My  Red Baron are ok so far.

A few went to seed last year and I think it was due to the amount of rain we had and sadly this year is turning out the same.