1. IMPORTANT - NEW & EXISTING MEMBERS

    E-MAIL SERVER ISSUES

    We are currently experiencing issues with our outgoing email server, therefore EXISTING members will not be getting any alert emails, and NEW/PROSPECTIVE members will not receive the email they need to confirm their account. This matter has been escalated, however the technician responsible is currently on annual leave.For assistance, in the first instance, please PM any/all of the admin team (if you can), alternatively please send an email to:

    [email protected]

    We will endeavour to help as quickly as we can.
    Dismiss Notice

Bolting Onions

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by alana, Jun 14, 2010.

Page 1 of 2
  1. alana

    alana Super Gardener

    Joined:
    May 5, 2008
    Messages:
    762
    Occupation:
    Head Gardener
    Location:
    Far East of Suffolk
    Ratings:
    +2,618
    I noticed today my onions, grown from sets, have flower heads on them. Do I cut them? Advice please.
     
    alana, Jun 14, 2010
    #1 Quote in Conversation
  2. Phil A

    Phil A Guest

    Ratings:
    +0
    You can, but the onion will have a flower tube in the middle of it. If it bulbs up at all. You can either eat them now as spring onions or move them to another part of the plot, let them do their thing & hopefully they will divide into 2/3 spring onions early next season.
     
    Phil A, Jun 14, 2010
    #2 Quote in Conversation
  3. theplantman

    theplantman Gardener

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2010
    Messages:
    257
    Ratings:
    +0
    cut flower spikes out and use quick, they wont store and as said above middle will be poor..sorry no good news. Its been an unusully dry season and this encourages bolting. Heat or water treated sets wont bolt, (they dont get quite as big though) onions grown from seed are less likely to bolt too.
     
    theplantman, Jun 14, 2010
    #3 Quote in Conversation
  4. alana

    alana Super Gardener

    Joined:
    May 5, 2008
    Messages:
    762
    Occupation:
    Head Gardener
    Location:
    Far East of Suffolk
    Ratings:
    +2,618
    Thanks guys - now what can I cook that needs lots of onions :)
     
    alana, Jun 15, 2010
    #4 Quote in Conversation
  5. Phil A

    Phil A Guest

    Ratings:
    +0
    onion bahjees use quite a bit of onion
     
    Phil A, Jun 15, 2010
    #5 Quote in Conversation
  6. nFrost

    nFrost Head Gardener

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2013
    Messages:
    1,763
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Leachate Treatment Plant Manager
    Location:
    Cottingham, East Yorkshire
    Ratings:
    +2,908
    A couple of mine have bolted in the last few days so I nipped the flowerhead off. When you say they wont store do you mean in the ground where they are now? Can I leave them to bulb as much as they can and then use ASAP?
     
    nFrost, Jun 19, 2013
    #6 Quote in Conversation
  7. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2008
    Messages:
    30,845
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Surrey
    Ratings:
    +46,062
    They won't store over-winter, they will be fine in the ground though. They won't bulb up fully so eat these ones first once they get big enough :blue thumb:
     
    • Informative Informative x 1
      JWK, Jun 19, 2013
      #7 Quote in Conversation
    • nFrost

      nFrost Head Gardener

      Joined:
      Feb 19, 2013
      Messages:
      1,763
      Gender:
      Male
      Occupation:
      Leachate Treatment Plant Manager
      Location:
      Cottingham, East Yorkshire
      Ratings:
      +2,908
      Okay, thank you. Felt very disheartened when I realised what was happening. Had a little sulk and everything.
       
      • Like Like x 1
        nFrost, Jun 19, 2013
        #8 Quote in Conversation
      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

        Joined:
        Jun 3, 2008
        Messages:
        30,845
        Gender:
        Male
        Location:
        Surrey
        Ratings:
        +46,062
        Some years I've had nearly all of them bolt but generally it's only a few and only one so far this year. How many of your's have bolted then nFrost?
         
        JWK, Jun 19, 2013
        #9 Quote in Conversation
      • nFrost

        nFrost Head Gardener

        Joined:
        Feb 19, 2013
        Messages:
        1,763
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Leachate Treatment Plant Manager
        Location:
        Cottingham, East Yorkshire
        Ratings:
        +2,908
        hmm...probably 4 out of 30-ish. Some (not the bolting ones) look really good and bulbing up nicely and some seem a bit weedy. I've haven't taken great care of them to be honest!
         
        nFrost, Jun 19, 2013
        #10 Quote in Conversation
      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

        Joined:
        Jun 3, 2008
        Messages:
        30,845
        Gender:
        Male
        Location:
        Surrey
        Ratings:
        +46,062
        That sounds OK to me, if you haven't already do so you could feed them to beef up the spindly ones. I used to use growmore granules, now I scatter chicken manure pellets - other fertilizers would be good too like Blood Fish & Bone. Don't over do the fertilizer, you're just trying to give them a little boost.
         
        • Informative Informative x 2
          JWK, Jun 19, 2013
          #11 Quote in Conversation
        • nFrost

          nFrost Head Gardener

          Joined:
          Feb 19, 2013
          Messages:
          1,763
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Leachate Treatment Plant Manager
          Location:
          Cottingham, East Yorkshire
          Ratings:
          +2,908
          Never thought of that, thank you JWK. Are onions grown from seed less likely to bolt? I guess they may be more susceptible to pests and disease though as they take longer to get the harvesting stage??
           
          nFrost, Jun 19, 2013
          #12 Quote in Conversation
        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

          Joined:
          Jun 3, 2008
          Messages:
          30,845
          Gender:
          Male
          Location:
          Surrey
          Ratings:
          +46,062
          I'm not really sure, I always grow from sets as they are so much easier. For the first time in years I've grown a few from seed for the giant onion competition, they are much better looking due to being molly-coddled so it's not a fair comparison. My guess is that grown from seed would be just as susceptible to bolting but hopefully others will comment who have experience.
           
          JWK, Jun 19, 2013
          #13 Quote in Conversation
        • nFrost

          nFrost Head Gardener

          Joined:
          Feb 19, 2013
          Messages:
          1,763
          Gender:
          Male
          Occupation:
          Leachate Treatment Plant Manager
          Location:
          Cottingham, East Yorkshire
          Ratings:
          +2,908
          I guess you're giant onions are grown in a controlled environment also as you want them be at their best.
           
          nFrost, Jun 19, 2013
          #14 Quote in Conversation
        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

          Joined:
          Jun 3, 2008
          Messages:
          30,845
          Gender:
          Male
          Location:
          Surrey
          Ratings:
          +46,062
          Yes I've kept my giant onions frost free and used grow lights in the early stages, and individually potted on. Now they are planted alongside my normal sets, but the giants have a windbreak and circular supports so the leaves don't flop over. All way too much faff just for a few onions, next year I won't lavish so much care on them, it's interesting to see what a difference a little lot of TLC makes though.
           
          JWK, Jun 19, 2013
          #15 Quote in Conversation
        Page 1 of 2
        Loading...
        Similar Threads - Bolting Onions
        1. Jowo

          Onion bolting

          Jowo, Jun 21, 2021, in forum: Edible Gardening
          Replies:
          10
          Views:
          699
          Jowo
          Jun 22, 2021
        2. Ramshackle

          bok choy bolting :(

          Ramshackle, Jun 2, 2014, in forum: Edible Gardening
          Replies:
          3
          Views:
          436
          Ramshackle
          Jun 2, 2014
        3. johnygrowall

          bolting

          johnygrowall, Feb 20, 2012, in forum: General Gardening Discussion
          Replies:
          4
          Views:
          738
          kyleleonard
          Feb 20, 2012
        4. Jon

          Bolting

          Jon, Nov 21, 2011, in forum: Edible Gardening
          Replies:
          3
          Views:
          939
          Jon
          Nov 23, 2011
        5. Moopants

          Bolting Broccoli & mouldy marrows

          Moopants, Jul 16, 2011, in forum: General Gardening Discussion
          Replies:
          4
          Views:
          777
          Moopants
          Jul 16, 2011

        Share This Page

        1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
          By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
          Accept Learn More...
          Dismiss Notice