The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Vegetables => Topic started by: piggy on July 02, 2012, 10:38:28 pm

Title: Onions bolting
Post by: piggy on July 02, 2012, 10:38:28 pm

Hi  :wave:


This is my first year growing onions,have 3 different raised beds full,the first bed i planted is fine onions looking a good size,the second bed was planted about 2 weeks later and nearly all of them have bolted,the third bed was about 2 weeks after that and they are fine.
Can i cut the tops of the bolted ones and if so will they grow anymore or do i need to pull them out.


Thanks

Title: Re: Onions bolting
Post by: Beewyched on July 02, 2012, 10:48:03 pm

If you can catch them early enough - before they flower - you can just snap over the flower stalk & the bulb should fatten-up for you.  We had this problem last year too - not worked-out why as yet  ::)

Title: Re: Onions bolting
Post by: Fleecewife on July 03, 2012, 12:52:26 am

I think some varieties are more prone to bolting, but they also can do it if they have been stressed (cold, heat, drought, etc).  Whilst you can eat them, apart from the middle bit which is the flower stalk and tough, they won't store.

Title: Re: Onions bolting
Post by: Mel on July 05, 2012, 06:27:41 am

I think it is the weather you know,mine are bolting and have had to cut the tops off,I always grow the same varieties and have not had the problem before this year :-\

Title: Re: Onions bolting
Post by: Hermit on July 05, 2012, 07:48:40 am

I pick the tops off as soon as I see a sign of bolting. Keeps them growing but not as big and as said the first ones to be eaten, not stored. I use them in marmalades etc.

Title: Re: Onions bolting
Post by: piggy on July 05, 2012, 08:02:38 am

Thanks everyone,i have taken the tops off,all the onions in that bed have now bolted but fingers crossed the other 2 beds are still ok.