Can't find the serach topic button so sorry if this has laready been asked.
My Japanese onions are still very small having suffered a long and very cold winter and then a late and very wet and cool spring. Normally about now I would be bending over the tops to let the bulbs ripen for harvesting in July.
Should I wait and see if they fatten up some more? Will this risk them bolting?
Mine are a mixed bunch, some bulbed up nicely, some small. Just using them as I need them and leaving them to their own devices. I would wait and see.
Mine were folding over fast the other day so as I needed the space I lifted the lot. When did you plant yours? The size is always variable, but they really need to be in in early autumn; my November ones are OK, but later planted onions are a very mixed lot, and all small.
Mine were planted in late October but we did get snow in mid November and lots more over winter right up until late March. Temps of -15 were common with several more dips down to -20C than we usually get.
I don't know what that sort of temperature will do to them, but doubtless someone will.
Those temperatures are standard here though in recent years we do seem to get them every winter and not just one year in two or three. I think the main delay in growth is the extra long winter and the horrible cold, wet May we had, although it doesn't seem to have bothered the chives and ornamental alliums at all. They are blooming marvellous.
Having baked at up to 37C for the last few days they are now getting a bit of a soaking which will no doubt cool them rapidly and confuse them further. I'll just have to keep an eye out for bolting and bend the stems quickly if they start.
mine are a mixed bunch too - different sizes etc.... some have started to bend over.
Are they unusable when they bolt then? one of mine looks like it is about to flower? does it affect the taste or something?
Is it advisable to lift them once they have started to keel over or is it OK to just lift them when needed as Katy says.
Once they bolt the centre of the bulb goes green and the taste becomes bitter and they can't be stored as they rot easily.
So can we just rip off the flower head before it opens and all will be fine?
You certainly can, but you still get a fat stem up the middle of it. I've had a lot of it with my spring-planted onions since the weather warmed up.