Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: bumble on May 24, 2005, 10:01:45

Title: Onions
Post by: bumble on May 24, 2005, 10:01:45
My onions are coming along nicely but I have noticed that they have bulbs growing from the top of the leaves which I guess are seeds.  Is it true that this means when I actually come to harvest them that I cannot keep them for any lenght of time - I was hoping to tie them up and use them when needed?
Title: Re: Onions
Post by: Sprout on May 24, 2005, 10:19:36
Sounds like they could be flowers developing which will produce seeds later. Think you need to remove these ASAP.
Title: Re: Onions
Post by: MarthaMad on May 24, 2005, 10:32:09
Do you do the same for Garlic??  I have some Garlic with floers coming up...
Title: Re: Onions
Post by: tim on May 24, 2005, 10:56:24
Yes!
Title: Re: Onions
Post by: Mrs Ava on May 24, 2005, 22:14:51
Pinch out the flowers and make sure you use those onions first.  I have had a few send up flower stems already - I blame the dry Essex weather!
Title: Re: Onions
Post by: johcharly on May 26, 2005, 00:17:27
Nip off the flowers as soon as you see them with all onion family including chives!!
Title: Re: Onions
Post by: chrispea27 on May 26, 2005, 07:00:42
yes remove to allow bulbs to expand ;D
Title: Re: Onions
Post by: djbrenton on May 26, 2005, 08:29:50
You'll also find these stems are great chopped up in salads instead of spring onions.
Title: Re: Onions
Post by: Doris_Pinks on May 26, 2005, 08:33:28
In my hazy brain it seems to nag that there are a certain type of garlic that flower before you harvest them???  Now I am going to have to research! :-\
Title: Re: Onions
Post by: Lady Cosmos on May 26, 2005, 08:44:43
Yes Doris, these are the hardneck varieties.. If you want yhe bulb to get more garlic, than leave the flowers, the scapes, leave them till harvest time and dry them.
Title: Re: Onions
Post by: bunnycat on May 26, 2005, 19:38:06
Quote from: johcharly on May 26, 2005, 00:17:27
Nip off the flowers as soon as you see them with all onion family including chives!!

Most of the books I've read recommend this, but I keep my chive flowers, as they make a beautiful (edible) garnish on salads ;D
I've also served them frozen in ice cubes, in chilled fennel tea :P Very pretty.....
Title: Re: Onions
Post by: kitty on May 26, 2005, 20:15:26
can anyone answer this for me?
i went to our village(about a mile away and when i parked there is someone who has a  lovely allotment type garden..very workmanlike it is.anyway-i say onions ther as big as a babies head..well..almost!so when did he plant these?are they sets or seeds?
he also has the sets(or looks like)like the sort i've planted-they are as far on as mine-which isnt very far...
so?any ideas?
Title: Re: Onions
Post by: Merry Tiller on May 26, 2005, 20:39:42
Seeds sown around Christmas time, they get very large indeed :o
Title: Re: Onions
Post by: wardy on May 26, 2005, 21:53:46
Japanese onions sets put in at the back end of last year are bulbing up nicely. Do I need to feed them and with what can anyone tell me?

Thanks

Wardy
Title: Re: Onions
Post by: redimp on May 26, 2005, 22:17:36
I have heard a bit of chicken poo does them good at the end of May so that is what I have done.
Title: Re: Onions
Post by: kitty on May 27, 2005, 08:30:55
are these japanese onion sets available in gc's then at the end of the year?
winter hardy then?
Title: Re: Onions
Post by: Mrs Ava on May 27, 2005, 23:28:48
Yes Kitty.  I get mine mail order - Marshalls or Tuckers - they arrived around October time and I finally got them in sometime in November.  I pulled my first 2 today and they area about twice the size of a tennis ball.  That is good for me as they appear to have beaten the bl**dy rot!  ;D
Title: Re: Onions
Post by: kitty on May 28, 2005, 08:37:16
aha!
not heard of tuckers..i shall have to get some!ta ej!