Onion help

Anything to do with growing herbs and vegetables goes here.
Post Reply
kyj
margo - newbie
margo - newbie
Posts: 11
Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2012 5:53 am
Location: South Harbour

Onion help

Post: # 259859Post kyj »

I've been growing onions from seed in my poly the last two years - they seem to get going well, but the tops don't seem to flop over and die back the way I would expect in autumn. By the time I've decided they are not going to and have lifted them, the outside layers of the onion are starting to mildew/rot. Is it just too damp in there (one poly definitely is but the other is a Solartunnel and pretty well ventilated). Any advice on lifting them earlier and drying them out?

Thanks in advance.

MKG
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 5139
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 5:15 pm
Location: North Notts.

Re: Onion help

Post: # 259860Post MKG »

Sounds like the polytunnel environment is just too onion-friendly. Theoretically, there's nothing to stop an onion from carrying on with its growing, given a long-enough day length and high-enough temperature. If they do that for too long a time, they'll rot from the outside in - which is what you're describing. You'd maybe be better off deciding for yourself when they're mature and lifting at that point, regardless of the state of the tops.

Or grow them outside the polytunnel.

Mike
The secret of life is to aim below the head (With thanks to MMM)

User avatar
Odsox
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 5466
Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 2:21 pm
Location: West Cork, Ireland

Re: Onion help

Post: # 259863Post Odsox »

I had the same problem with my outdoor onions and the only way I could deal with the problem was to "suggest" to the onions that was time to mature by sticking my garden fork under each one and semi lifting them, snapping a lot of roots but still leaving a few.
Most of them took the hint eventually.
Now that I grow them in the tunnel it's a lot easier as I just stop watering them when I judge the time is right.
Then they have no option but to die down.
Tony

Disclaimer: I almost certainly haven't a clue what I'm talking about.

kyj
margo - newbie
margo - newbie
Posts: 11
Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2012 5:53 am
Location: South Harbour

Re: Onion help

Post: # 259871Post kyj »

That's brilliant - thankyou both.

Post Reply