Questions on onions

[ninnymary]

As a new gardener I think I went overboard. I planted walla walla onions because I couldn't resist 15 plants for $3.00 at Home Depot.

They all seem to be growing well but then one of them sprouted a flower head. A few weeks later I noticed that the some of the other ones were knocked over and their stems were broken. At first, I thought it might have been a cat or racoon that had done this. I didn't think the onion would continue to grow with the broken stem so I pulled some of them out. The onion was about 2/3's the size of a full grown one and they were alittle green.

I stored them outside under my second story deck. My questions are:

Can you eat green onions?

Should I have left them in the ground even though their stalks were broken and I didn't think they would continue to grow?

Should I pull the one with the flower head out?

I think I should have stucked to "greens" in my first year. :/

Mary

 

[ducks4you]

Can you eat green onions?

ABSOLUTELY!! YUMMM!!!!!!

Should I have left them in the ground even though their stalks were broken and I didn't think they would continue to grow?

Yep. You'll still get something of an onion bulb.

Should I pull the one with the flower head out?

You can. Or not. Make sure to watch it because it's going to seed. You can grab a baggie when you see the seeds, and save them to plant. You can EVEN plant the seeds this year, but you better mark where you do it. Onions take 2 years to make their bulbs. These will be your 2011 onions.

Enjoy!!

 

[vfem]

If an onion flowers it become a none storable onion. If you pull them early when they are not fulling mature they are a sping onion. They need to be stored in a cool place like the fridge and used in about 2 weeks to still be good.

For storage onions, wait until the tops flop over themselves to be done.

Usually the best time for Zones 6-10 to plant onions is in the fall since they have a LONG growing season, and heat from summer in the south makes the onions bolt (go to flower) where they can not be stored, and it shortens the growth to the point the true bulb never forms.

I planted in late Oct and only 20 of my 70 bulbs got big enough to use for curing and storage. The others were enjoyed fresh!

 

[ninnymary]

If an onion flowers it become a none storable onion. If you pull them early when they are not fulling mature they are a sping onion. They need to be stored in a cool place like the fridge and used in about 2 weeks to still be good.

For storage onions, wait until the tops flop over themselves to be done.

Usually the best time for Zones 6-10 to plant onions is in the fall since they have a LONG growing season, and heat from summer in the south makes the onions bolt (go to flower) where they can not be stored, and it shortens the growth to the point the true bulb never forms.

I planted in late Oct and only 20 of my 70 bulbs got big enough to use for curing and storage. The others were enjoyed fresh!

"sping onion"? Do you mean spring? Remember when "talking" to us that some of us are very "green" The onions I pulled were the size of a small regular onion. They were NOT small like scallions or what I call spring onions. They are alittle green that is why I wasn't sure if I could eat them. I hope Ducks4you understood this or that I made myself clear.:/

I want to store them because they are too many for us to use right away. That is why I have them outside in a cool dry place.

If I should plant onions in the fall, why did they have them in the spring for sale? It is confusing. I would hope that if something is on sale that stores are carrying them at the approrpiate planting time! GRRRRRR!

Do you think the tops flopped over by themselves and not by animals the way I first thought?

Mary

 

[vfem]

A spring onion is just a fresh onion... not a cured one for storage! Same thing!

I know the feeling about too many to eat right away... but they won't store from what I read. Curing is an art it seems, and I'm still worried about screwing up mine.

Anyways. If you chop them, you can freeze them! I also chopped some up and made an onion & garlic balsamic jelly glaze for chicken and fish. Its lovely and I just canned it right up from my extra spring onions. Yummm....

 

[ninnymary]

Oh Vfem...You do not want me to start canning yet. I am not there yet. Maybe next year. I already have enough with this "veggie gardening stuff"!

I like the idea of chopping and freezing. Sounds easy and I think I can do that. Does the texture/onion stay the same after you take it out of the freezer? That glaze sounds delicious! Yumm

Thanks
Mary

 

[ducks4you]

I also chopped some up and made an onion & garlic balsamic jelly glaze for chicken and fish. Its lovely and I just canned it right up from my extra spring onions. Yummm....

Ok, vefm, FESS UP!! WHERE's the recipe for this?

 

[vfem]

Oh Vfem...You do not want me to start canning yet. I am not there yet. Maybe next year. I already have enough with this "veggie gardening stuff"!

I like the idea of chopping and freezing. Sounds easy and I think I can do that. Does the texture/onion stay the same after you take it out of the freezer? That glaze sounds delicious! Yumm

Thanks
Mary

Oh yes, I do that to the onions and green pepper to have for quick stir fries! Love it! My onions from the freezer or only good for cooking... not crispy if raw.

Ok, vefm, FESS UP!! WHERE's the recipe for this? droolin

http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/Caramelized-Onion-Jam-170996
I left out the cloves and ginger, and I changed the apple cider vinegar to balsamic vinegar! So much nicer for an italian type flavor!

 

[journey11]

This is the first year I've tried growing my own onions. I planted over a 100 and I'm beginning to wonder if I'll have any to store because they're so much tastier than regular onions and I've been cooking with them almost daily!

I love the green tops and I even use the necks and all. They are so good!

I don't know much about storage expectancy yet, but I have been pinching off the buds as they try to bloom. Some have tried again and again! They seem very determined to do it. I planted them from sets I got at the feed store. I got them out VERY early this year and have been able to get some nice size bulbs on them for that.

I can't believe I never tried to grow my own onions before now. I didn't know what I was missing!

 

[ducks4you]

I planted 300 this year--HONEST--we LOVE onions at my house.