Due to the dry weather - some of my onion bulbs are starting to push up out of the soil. Me thinks I will be eating small onions - not fat ones. Never been able to grow fat onions. They are always sown from sets with just the tip exposed. Any ideas welcome
Sorry you haven't had any answers,I've got the same problem. Are yours overwintered onions too?
Mine are doing ok... are they being pulled out by birds?
:-\
This to my mind is a good thing!
It means the roots are lengthening and because the top inch of soil is dry & loose it is not offering any resistance so the bulb gets pushed out. In moister stiffer soil this is generally not a problem.
Earth them up slightly don't push them in or else you will damage the root system.
They will settle down in time.
Mine were planted in the Autumn from sets are are also popping out of the soil - but a lot of them are really big! I will try and take a photo this week and post. Must I earth all of them up!!
Jitterbug
I've had four small ones pop out so far I wasn't sure if my two year old had kicked them out, she's already had my toms in the greenhouse >:(, pulled the top off my tiger melon >:(, tried to dig up my pumpkins >:(,( they survived) as you said KT I just eat them as small onions. ;D ;D ;D
Quote from: caroline7758 on May 07, 2007, 12:20:52
Sorry you haven't had any answers,I've got the same problem. Are yours overwintered onions too?
Phew! Was beginning to think I had found a topic with no possible answer. Yes they are over wintered, and about the size of large pickled onions. No Girth at all really. Will try earthing up as TG says.
I'm new, so probably dont know what I am talking about.
But a lottie neighbour said to make sure that we plant the onion sets.
Dig a hole back fill it a little and plant the onion, he said he has seen loads of people just push them in, or plant them into a hole without softening the soil underneath.
In which case the soil below the set is too hard and the onion set pops out.
Makes sense to me.
Sorry if this is obvious, and you did plant them properly!!
Two more popped out yesterday. :( ;D ;D ;D
Quote from: SueSteve on May 09, 2007, 08:50:39
Dig a hole back fill it a little and plant the onion, he said he has seen loads of people just push them in, or plant them into a hole without softening the soil underneath.
In which case the soil below the set is too hard and the onion set pops out.
I didnt know about the backfill bit but did the rest. Will try the backfill method for the next batch.
i used a dibber this year so i will see if it makes a difference
We have a number of spring planted sets that haven't sprouted - just sitting slightly in the soil but doing nothing. Haven't gone hollow yet. I've kept some spares in the fridge so will try planting them in as replacements but a bit deeper.
Some of my onions are quite large and closely spaced - can I "harvest some now for use ?
Nail on head, TG & Sue!
Yes - about not pushing them back. And yes - the soil is still moist 3" down.
And yes, Sue - plant! Especially to discourage the birds.
Even then, I have never known a year without some still popping /being popped out!!