Help, my onions want to flower and I don't know what to do!

[MrsD'ville]

I've never grown onions before. I planted sets in the autumn and now have a fantastic-looking crop, but two or three are developing those pointy tops that I know presage flowers. Should I lop them off, is it time to pull up or is there a plan C? My instinct is that the onions won't benefit from the energy going into a flower.

Thanks in advance to those who know their onions

[Millymollymandy]

I cut them off then make sure I eat those onions first, usually when just about ripe, but before the rest of the crop's leaves start to go brown indicating they are ready to harvest.

[ina]

Same here. There's always a few that want to flower early... Unless you want to have a few pretty flowers in your onion bed, of course - I think the bees like them, too.

[MrsD'ville]

Thanks. I've been rooting about on the web as well and it seems my options are to whip off the seed stalk or pull up the onions. I pulled one up as an experiment but it's more of an overgrown leek than a wunion (tried posting a photo but PhotoBucket is mucking about, grrr), so I've snipped the flower stalks off the others and am hoping for the best! I think I will leave one for the bees.

Thanks for the advice,

Heather

[chadspad]

All of my red onions have gone to seed and theyre not very big either!! Im going to dig them up and eat them, so what do I have to do with them please? Dont I have to let them dry out or something?

[MINESAPINT]

Yes, if you don't dry them they will rot. I always think the drying is more difficult than the growing but I suppose it depends on your weather. Small onions will dry better than large ones. I hang mine in my log shed when the swallows are finished with it. It has a good roof with open sides. If you can rely on some sunshine just leave them outside. If they are not sufficiently dry and you store them indoors they will rot.

[possum]

I would cut the flower heads off, then later on let a couple go to seed and collect the seed for next year.

[chadspad]

OK, thanks very much!

[Peggy Sue]

I'm glad you posted this, half of my reds have got flower heads and we stood and debated the options...in the end I cut half of them off, but I think I will cut the other half off as the bulbs are far more like leeks as you say!

When should I pull the shallots? They are supposed to be earleir aren't they?

[andyt]

General rule of thumb for onions: if you want seeds for next season,leave one to flower& nip any other buds off. When seed head has matured & opened, hold a paper bag over seed head. Cut off at stem, invert & shake,to collect seeds in bag.To assist drying process:from about the end of this month onwards,scrape round top of bulb to expose it to the sun(failing that,a copy of the Radio Times will do),prior to harvesting.
Harvesting to take place after approx. 3/4 foliage has turned brown.
(Blimey!! I haven't written so much since i was at skool)

[Millymollymandy]

I don't dig up onions that have flower buds on them, I just pick off the flower bud and leave them to carry on growing (which they have done in the past). Red Baron seem to like going to seed according to my past experience and what I've read on other forums. This year I have a different red onion (can't remember name offhand) but they seem to be very small still.

To dry them we put them on racks or boards or large sheets of cardboard (whatever is around!) and they do take up a lot of space. After a few weeks I go through them all just running my hand over them to remove the loose soil and a layer of the peeling skin. Leave for a bit longer then do again then bag up in netting.

I noticed that every single one of my garlic had got a flower bud on so I just picked them off. I dug up one of the garlic and it's not really ready yet as it is a bit small but very delicious!