check your onions

I've been so concerned to protect my tatties from frost lately that I'd forgotten to keep an eye on other crops. Checking the overwintered onions today I found that some had bolted. Managed to nip out five seed stalks but I'll need to check them daily now as I don't want the lot going to seed.

It's this funny weather, the poor things don't know what season it's supposed to be!

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Permalink Reply by Catherine on May 6, 2012 at 20:29

I noticed that too, Colin. And the stalks are thick, which isn't really good. I don't think it will be worth over wintering onions next year!

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Permalink Reply by Darren Blick on May 13, 2012 at 19:49

I always grow from seed as they are less likely to bolt than from sets

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Permalink Reply by Colin Robinson on May 13, 2012 at 20:55

Darren, can you grow overwintering onions from seed?

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Permalink Reply by Darren Blick on May 13, 2012 at 21:07

To be honest Colin I don't know

I haven't heard of it but if you start the seed off at the right time then plant out, I guess it must be the same

It's only the variety and the onion remains dormant until the season warms up to kick start it again

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Permalink Reply by Fred Hogg on May 13, 2012 at 21:15

Yes, you can grow from seed, I have onion Keepwell up the farm at present, sown last August. They will only keep till November though.

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Permalink Reply by Colin Robinson on May 13, 2012 at 22:09

I don't need them to keep, Fred. I only grow overwintered ones to get an early crop anyway. The spring sown ones in store last through to the next spring usually. Will check out 'keepwell'

Fred Hogg said:

Yes, you can grow from seed, I have onion Keepwell up the farm at present, sown last August. They will only keep till November though.

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Permalink Reply by Fred Hogg on May 14, 2012 at 20:09

Kings seeds at Colchester, Colin

Colin Robinson said:

I don't need them to keep, Fred. I only grow overwintered ones to get an early crop anyway. The spring sown ones in store last through to the next spring usually. Will check out 'keepwell'

Fred Hogg said:

Yes, you can grow from seed, I have onion Keepwell up the farm at present, sown last August. They will only keep till November though.

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Permalink Reply by TheLittleBalcony on May 15, 2012 at 11:23

My over wintering onions are looking good, also no bolting for me either. Its the first time I've ever grown Onions or over wintered them, it may be beginners luck but so far so good, fingers crossed.