I just found seeds on my Creole heirloom onions. I thought I had at least another 6 weeks of growth. They were planted last September and I don't think they're at the 4" size like they're supposed to be. What to do now? Don't they start deteriorating when they set seeds? I wanted to save a few seeds from them to plant in the fall. Do I just let a couple go until the seed heads dry? Some that were planted later have small tops so can I save those as sets?
This is the first time I've grown onions from seed and the first time I've tried bulbing onions. I'm obviously dumb as dirt. My green onions (scallions) from seed have done very well and I'm happy with them.
Help! Seeds on my onions.
Yes when send up the seed stalk, they tend to divert all their energy to producing seed. If if pinch the bud when it first appears, you can slow down the process a bit. The bulbs will tend to be hollow and woody tho, so they are best used as green onions except for those from which you wish to save seed. Onions are tricky and timing is essential. You may want to delay planting until late October or November in your area.
Thanks Farmer. I'll keep at it since I use lots of them. I bet that photo is those top of the line Vidalias.
You win, Granex 33's one of the two dozen or so approved cultivars for the Vidalia label.
I know they wouldn't have the benefit of the right soil but I'd like to try them this fall. I've got to work on the timing.
I just harvested a couple of my onions and the biggest one was 1 1/2". I also realize that I had them too crowded and too deep. They've got such long necks that they look like leeks. Maybe the garlic will cooperate better.
Yes you want just barely in the ground and spaced about 6 inches. One other thing you might consider. The onion bulb is a modified leaf. They like a good feeding of nitrogen when the the daylenght gets about 10 hours. (Short day onions of course)
Good info. I fed them in late Feb and again three days ago ahead of this rain with triple 13. There weren't any seed pods noticeable then. It's almost like they came up overnight. I messed up all around. I have several more batches I staggered but none are planted properly so now I'm not expecting much.
You might be surprised, Once they go into vegetative mode, they bulb very rapidly. Here they are cranking now, harvest mostly in April. The key is to have them ready to grow, when the daylenght gets to 12 hours. They tend to seed if they have been sitting without growth. Of course it is easier with the hybrids. But most of them will seed if they reach a stage of maturity which is interrupted ( ie get too big in the fall). They are biennials and think they are two year olds ( time to reproduce).