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I planted red onion sets in October and overwintered them.  This is the first time I have ever tried this.  They survived but they are not “bulbing up”.  They look healthy enough but although the stems are thick they aren't making bulbs and look more like leeks! ???  Is this normal?

Hi

Are they seeds or bulbs?

Cambourne7

They were red onion sets Cambourne. :-[

You're on clay soil?

Some of my overwintering onions are bulbing up, some aren't. Give them time.

Now the warmer weather is catching up, the bulbs will start catching up over the next month or so. Patience..... Patience.

yes, all of ours are the same..just given them a feed, see what happens  :)

Hi autumn, Hi all  :)

I discovered my over wintering onions (and shallots too) are bolting, probably due to lack of rain and our free-draining dust. I`ve watered them to try to stop any remaining ones doing the same and I`m going to eat them as they are. (they look like big spring onions)

Those in similar circumstances might want to start watering if they can. Could be thats why soil type is important?

Col

Mine are on heavy clay and have been drenched twice but caught half a dozen starting to bolt... not properly heat treated to kill embryo flower stem...? As OWinter onions aren't really going to be stored I just snap them out as soon as I see them..
;D

my overwintering onions have grown quite a bit in the last 2 weeks.

They look like very small spring onions now.

However the heat treated bulbs i should have planted last april and forgot and planted in aug have developed well and i have pulled 3 yesterday. Made a fried onion sandwich - YUM

my overwintering onions are pathetic and have barely put on any growth at all.  They look like poor spring onions.  Next doors look much bigger but already 7 of them have gone to seed.

looked before, I've noticed some have put on a bit of weight but one has started seeding

Good to know I am not alone!  Only one has started to form a seed head.  Have given them all a good soaking over the weekend and will try to be patient.  They look really healthy and the stems are thick - trouble is the stems go all the way down! ;D

Scraped back the spent hops and this one's nearly ready, they all seem to be fighting against the hard soil, despite the watering and mulching!

Quote from: mc55 on April 29, 2007, 19:46:29
my overwintering onions are pathetic and have barely put on any growth at all.

Ditto here.  Although we've had a bit of heat, it's not been consistent, so hopefully this will stop the bolt.

I've been disappointed with my over wintered onions so far, but am still hoping for great things if I just ignore them for a while longer yet.

some of mine have got white rot :(/shades x

Worry not  :) There is loads of time yet for overwintered onions to grow ..
They will start to grow now day length's are getting longer.
Bolting (going to seed) is a risk we all take with overwintered onions ..
Cheers.. Jim.

Our sets are just starting to bulb up, and the ones sown as seed in October have just been planted out.

BTW have just discovered that the Alisa Craig from alan romans make excellant eating as spring onions so dont throw away any spare

They should mature in late June