Onions

[keejaay]

I have noticed that my onion sets have started to seed -- is this due to the weird weather ---

[keejaay]

[BarriedaleNick]

Probably - over wintered or Spring planted? My spring planted sets are a disaster this year and some over wintered from seed have bolted.  The over wintered sets did fine but the rest are blah!!

[keejaay]

These Onion sets were planted at the end of april and took a while to show - they are still on the small side .

[ed dibbles]

Some of your onion sets will always send up flowering shoots but not all. When you harvest them you will easily tell which ones tried to flower as their necks will be thick. Use those first.

The thin necked ones will store just fine.

Been growing onions fron sets for years and never had a year when none of them sent up a single flower head but when it comes to using them there are always plenty. ;)

[davyw1]

If an onion plant is exposed to alternating cold and warm temperatures wet and dry conditions resulting in the onion plant going dormant, resuming growth, going dormant and then resuming growth again, the onion bulbs prematurely flower or bolt.
The onion is deceived into believing it has completed two growth cycles or years of growth in its biennial life cycle so it finalizes the cycle by going to seed.
An onion drinks about one inch of water a week and we have had far in eccess of that lately so that does not help. If you have not had the rain and not watered your onions once a week that did not help either.

Thick neck (bull neck) is caused by to much Nitrogen and not enough Suphate off Potash or over feeding mid season. If you manured your onion bed could be another cause. As said these onion wont store.

[gwynnethmary]

davy, those onions you gave me, that keep going all the time, are starting to develop flowers stems.  Should I cut them off?

[davyw1]

No need Gwynneth i have loads done the same, it all the rain we have had as they dont need a great deaal of water. and the onion will have split by now so it will have another growing.
If you are going to use a bunch with one in just discardd it.

[gwynnethmary]

Thanks Davy!  You're a mine of information.  I'm saving my milk bottles, but somehow think the sweetcorn may not provide a tasty meal for anyone this "summer".

[northener]

Same here everyone of my red have bolted and half of my whites. So can i use them?

[gavinjconway]

I have a few each time I go to the plot and I just pull and use them or cut up and freeze the balance.. delicious as green onions with white sauce or in stews etc..   I plant loads for that reason.

[davyw1]

Thanks Davy!  You're a mine of information.  I'm saving my milk bottles, but somehow think the sweetcorn may not provide a tasty meal for anyone this "summer".

You will get there Gwynneth, like everyone that get a new allotmant its a matter of getting stuff you need to be able to start things of propperly. Like i have said if you need anything and i can get it or have it your welcome to it.
If your sweetcorn is noy a success this year i will help you to get it right next year.

[keejaay]

Many thanks for your replies as usual they are very helpful and informative and i am glad i found they site --so much information can be found and gleened from people who have been keen gardners for many years and help new guys like myself

[chriscross1966]

Sweetcorn is pretty soil dependant too... It seems to like my soil, which is odd cos it's rather alkaline brickyard rubbish mixed with gravel and some oily looking clay if I go down a bit further... plus tons and tons of horse manure.... that might be the key :-) ...