Ut Oh, Onion Problem (With Pics)

[vfem]

I did what I was supposed to do and plant onions in the fall. I noticed yesterday (due to extremely hot and then cool temps and back to hot again) a few of my onions have sent up flower stalks.

According to my reading this is BAD for onions. Removal of the flower stalk will make no difference and I should harvest them now and use them fresh as they won't store if cured either.

If this true? Should I just harvest these onions for eating now? I'm guessing I can go ahead and clean them and eat them right away. I think I have at least another month before the rest start to flop over their tops so I can harvest and cure those. I don't want those to go to flower either.

Suggestions? This is my first time with onions.

 

[HunkieDorie23]

I did what I was supposed to do and plant onions in the fall. I noticed yesterday (due to extremely hot and then cool temps and back to hot again) a few of my onions have sent up flower stalks.

According to my reading this is BAD for onions. Removal of the flower stalk will make no difference and I should harvest them now and use them fresh as they won't store if cured either.

If this true? Should I just harvest these onions for eating now? I'm guessing I can go ahead and clean them and eat them right away. I think I have at least another month before the rest start to flop over their tops so I can harvest and cure those. I don't want those to go to flower either.

Suggestions? This is my first time with onions.

I have long day onions and they do this and it's usually OK. I am not so sure with short day onions. How many are we talking about, because if it a just a couple I'd be making a blooming onion for dinner. And with long day some people remove the blooms and some don't. It's up to you.

 

[vfem]

I'm guessing yellow onions are short day, which they should be because I am in the south and long day varieties don't do well with down here.

 

[vfem]

Here is the flower stalk and the onion I pulled... you see they are far from ready!!!

I should assume a bad year and maybe plant in September rather then October next time???

 

[digitS']

Of course, I'd go right ahead and use that onion, V.

You really need to find out from our southern gardeners about onion culture. Onions seem to be very region-specific. Here is something from Texas A& M. I can only guess that it may be useful to you.

I only live about 200 miles north of Walla Walla and have planted Walla Walla seed at the end August. After about 4 years of doing this and only getting nice bulb onions a couple of times. I gave up . . . until last year. Those were started in a container and then transplanted out at the end of September. They are very, very tiny . . . this experiment may not have worked either .

When I've directed-seeded at the end of August, seldom did I get very many large bulbs. Many (or all :/) bolted early to seed in the spring. Only 1 year did they produce like I'd hoped.

I think onions survive winter cold but need more pampering to do what we want from them - if'n we want large bulbs. But certainly, that onion in the photo looks tasty to me !

Steve

 

[vfem]

Thanks Steve... I figured with an early planting and some midrange temps all winter they would do well here. I just think I planted them short about a month and I WILL try again next year. My garlic is doing well, and it is flowering too. But I was told that is ok and normal and won't affect storage.

I did go ahead and eat that onion. I sliced it and threw it on top of a pizza last night I made. Last thing I got into me before I got ANOTHER round of this virus I have had 8 times since October. I can not believe I've been ill 10 times (including stomach viruses) so much this year.

I hope its not what I'm eating!

 

[lesa]

Oh no, vfem, sorry to hear you've not been feeling well. You know it is not the food!!!! I plant onions every year and every now and then I get one that looks like yours. I always assumed it was a shallot, or some other type of onion... Don't be surprised if the others turn out fine. I always eat mine, too. Hope you feel better...

 

[dickiebird]

vfem
Your onion looks like what I know as a leek. My only contact with leeks is what I see on the seed pkg.
This is my first time attempting to grow leeks, they're not too far along right now.
Leeks and onions from seed look to be a long term deal, neither are very big and they were started the end of Feb., inside.

THANX RICH

 

[journey11]

I did go ahead and eat that onion. I sliced it and threw it on top of a pizza last night I made. Last thing I got into me before I got ANOTHER round of this virus I have had 8 times since October. I can not believe I've been ill 10 times (including stomach viruses) so much this year.

I hope its not what I'm eating!

Sounds like you need to eat more onions then (and garlic)! I always do when I feel a bug coming on. I swear it works if you catch it early! And added bonus: your breath will keep other germy people away!

 

[Knotbored]

I am no onion expert-but perhaps someone that is could comment on the depth that onion is planted. The onions I see in succesful gardens are barely planted beneath the surface-perhaps 1/4" deep and the bulb develops above ground. Maybe it varies with the onion type-I know "bunching onions" for salad are deeper-but that type never produces a bulb for storage. Just for kicks I have a packet of bunching type and a package of Walla-Walla from seed ready to transplant out from my new greenhouse- my first experiment with them-will let ya know if I get bulbs from them.