I have planted red barons, sturon and japanese onions, how will I know when these are ready and alos if they have bolted how will I tell.
Thank you
If they bolt they will have a rigid flower stem growing up out of the middle with a bulb on the ensd...
If they were in before Christmas ( Japanese) they will be ready in June but you can take some earlier if you want... Spring planted ones tend to be ready in August here...
;D
A lot of onions put on top growth until June 21st and then when the year turns (days start getting shorter) they concentrate on making bulbs - so the bigger the plants grow this side of June the better as they can make bigger bulbs. Overwintered onions behave a little different - but not much.
As the bulbs are reaching their maximum size the tops start going brown and will fold over an inch or two above the bulb - after this they won't get any bigger. Bulbs with thick necks or going to seed wont do this and you should eat these first as they won't keep for long.
A lot of people then lever them up with a fork, shake off the soil and lay them on the soil with the root end facing the sun - this is said to ripen them so they store better.
Of course if it happens to be raining you will be better keeping them somewhere dry (greenhouse) to do this. When they are completely dry (the outer layer should be paper dry). Store them somewher cool and dry.
I did this last year and I still have some left in the garage.
I still have three strings in the shed!
;D
all i know is that my onions are not as big as my garlic above the soil and they were planted before christmas at the same time.
Quotemy onions are not as big as my garlic above the soil
Thats pretty normal particularly with 'hardneck' varieties.
phew not planning on my onions being ready till June when i might check them.