Allotments 4 All

Following an excellent harvest last season growing Japanese onions I decided to try later onions this year and planted 3 types, 1 red and 2 whites. It's fair to say I was extremely disappointed with the resultant crop as about 80% bolted at sometime during the season so, whilst they are ok for eating/freezing I have very few that will actually store. Did anyone else have this problem? Was it possibly the weather or could I have done something wrong?

Regards
TEYman

Were they sets or seed?
:-\

My onions have done well, it is my first attempt, though a very experienced lottie neighbour said hers have all bolted this year

Lushy x

Loads of mine bolted or grew with thick necks last year, this year not one bolted but I had quite a few with white rot.    ???     :-\     ;D ;D ;D

on our site where mostly sets are grown, all usually suffer from downy mildew, some from white rot and there is some bolting ... somewhat amazingly this year there has been no sign of downy mildew so far, reduced amounts of white rot and little bolting?!?

I've done very well on the bolting front (so far)...  :-X

We have had less bolting but a bit of white root rot.  Overall onions,shallots and garlic all seem to have done well

Can anyone tell me the best way to store onions please, we have a garage to keep them cool .

My garlic is rubbish this year :(.

tied in strings, or hung up in a net bag, rosebud! ;)

When the onion tops have pretty much all turned brown and started to shrivel lever them up with a fork and shake off excess soil - do this when the weather is dry and lay them on the soil for a few days to further dry off. If its cold and wet wash off the excess soil (I use a hose to do this). Use damaged or those with thick necks immediately as they won't keep anyway.

Initially put them somewhere warm and dry to further 'ripen' them (greenhouse or consevatory shelf is ideal). After a week or two when the tops are brittle dry, they can be moved into their permanent storage. Main requirement is to be dry and well ventilated. I have mine in string sacks hanging in the carport.

Quote from: saddad on July 15, 2009, 13:23:17
Were they sets or seed?
:-\

They were sets, saddad. Another thought of mine was that I grew them in a raised bed and the soil is very very fine .. some had fallen over. As they are rather shallow rooted, could this have been part of the problem?

TEYman

I do find many sets very variable... they are supposed to be heat treated to stop bolting but I don't think many are... at least not thoroughly...  :-X