bolting onions

[gardening-gal]

Can I just ask, does anyone know why onions bolt, or is it just one of those things?
Some of my red onions have started to bolt.

[gardening-gal]

[allaboutliverpool]

All plants want to reproduce and if a flowering plant will aim to produce a flower.

Onions are happy to grow to a large size and hence produce a large flower with plenty of potential for producing masses of seeds.

If the growing period is interrupted, for example, by drought, then it will produce its seed head on the assumption that there will be no more water.

Conversely if there is too much water it will also bolt.

Red onions seem to be more prone to bolting than white ones, and this year I have grown red shallots and these have also bolted!

The bulb can still be eaten, and the edible flower stalk will run through the middle so they are OK for chopping up for cooking. Eat them first as they will not store.


http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments_Vegetables_onions.html

[vegmandan]

Totally agree.

That's why I only ever grow heat treated onion sets as this usually eliminates any chance of them bolting.

Couldn't get any heat treated red ones this year and hey presto they've all bolted   :(whereas not one of the heat treated normal onions have. :D

[organicandy]

Bolting can allso be caused by inpropper ground preperation but the other replys are on the money aswell

[PurpleHeather]

Indeed the red ones always go first. Tetchy blighters.

I have found that the best method is to plant red onions just as soon as you can. Even if it is in fibre pots (loo roll tubes) under cover in trays if need be.

Feed them, with a liquid feed as soon as they begin to swell , when you know rain is due is best. Never let them get dry. If there are more than three rainless days, water them.

As soon as the first one shows a centre flower bud coming up. Lift the lot. Sure as anything when one starts the rest will follow.

At present they are all starting to bolt. Mixed weather.

[delboy]

They always bolt..those pesky red blighters..

But they make a mean onion chutney or marmalade!

[growmore]

Red onions  if checked by cold weather etc seem to be prone to bolting . I have found  the best way with red onion sets is not to plant them out till the ground warms up . Mid april or later ...

[Chris Graham]

They always bolt..those pesky red blighters..

But they make a mean onion chutney or marmalade!

Whats your recipe for the chutney?

[tonybloke]

I always leave the planting of red onions from sets until the spring equinox, daylength is then continuously increasing and they grow on well. plus most of the other answers. ;)