know your onions?

pedrothefish

i know its a bit early but i planted some red onions in the autumn can some one tell me how to stop them bolting, as last year a lot of mine bolted.
there seemed to be stalk? grew from the middle then turned into flowers do i pinch it out? your help would be appreciated.

Sally_A

Unless they were the autumn planting japanese onions you've no hope. and got stung by a right Del boy.

Onions and shallots go in end Feb/early March, and I'm cacking myself as the Moles order hasn't turned up yet.

Which variety were they? a quick google by you or us should clarify if they were old 2010 onions that have no chance, or those intended for a late 2010 sowing with a 2011 harvest.

pedrothefish

i cant remember the variety but i got them from wilkinsons and they are the red onions
the instructions said to plant them september to december which i have done. as you can see i'm a newby at this!!
they seem to be growing ok at the moment.
i also put some shallots in at the same time which are also growing have i done this wrong to?
thanks

Farway

pedrothefish wrote: »

there seemed to be stalk? grew from the middle then turned into flowers do i pinch it out? .

No, it will make no difference, the bulb will not be keep once harvested, but OK for cooking at once

If you search on bolting onions you will find it is a common, weather related, problem

one here

http://www.allotment.org.uk/vegetable/onion-shallot/onion-problem-disease.php

sirbrainy

However, pinching out the flower stem DOES keep the onion bulking up