How to get grass,pips from onions

**FionaH** · 28-02-2010, 08:50 PM

I moved this so people can respond

**Pies** · 28-02-2010, 09:01 PM

Ta.......

**zazen999** · 28-02-2010, 09:03 PM

Yeah, shave them.

Snadger the oracle on this will be around I'm sure to chip in, but once they have flowered, shave the heads off and the grass grows from the centre of the flower-ball.

I am currently nursing a head's worth of leek grass in the greenhouse.

**stella** · 28-02-2010, 09:35 PM

Please can you explain more about the above, sorry to ask but this is all new to me

**zazen999** · 28-02-2010, 09:47 PM

Go to search and type in 'leek grass' - there's loads of thread on it.

Here's a pic of mine last October after it was shaved.

Attached Files

leek seed head.jpg (0, 691 views)

**Snadger** · 01-03-2010, 08:31 PM

Originally posted by zazen999 View Post

Yeah, shave them.

Snadger the oracle on this will be around I'm sure to chip in, but once they have flowered, shave the heads off and the grass grows from the centre of the flower-ball.

I am currently nursing a head's worth of leek grass in the greenhouse.

Deffo for leeks but not too sure about onions?

We need an onion 'oracle' methinks!

**stella** · 01-03-2010, 08:33 PM

I thought we had one, coooeeee are you there????

**Snadger** · 01-03-2010, 08:43 PM

It appears they DO react similar to leeks...........well I never!

You live and learn!

(read the last paragraph on onion pips!)

Working in the Heated Greenhouse by Medwyn Williams MBE FNVS, Chairman of The National Vegetable Society

**zazen999** · 01-03-2010, 09:01 PM

And garlics Snadger; and possibly Shallots........I've got a few garlics from pips that are growing nicely from a seed head I found on the floor at Barnsdale last autumn. Thanks Geoff

**Snadger** · 01-03-2010, 09:25 PM

Originally posted by zazen999 View Post

And garlics Snadger; and possibly Shallots........I've got a few garlics from pips that are growing nicely from a seed head I found on the floor at Barnsdale last autumn. Thanks Geoff

Yep, I knew about garlics but hadn't heard of anyone planting onion pips. Now I know how all the onion men get them so big! Must admit though, this year will be my first without the big Kelsae onions for many a year. I have nothing against them apart from they take up too much room and you can't store them.

Theoretically then, if you are growing an F1 onion you should be able to re-propogate it the following year by growing pips.......if it sets any!

I feel ANOTHER experiment coming on!

**Pies** · 01-03-2010, 10:32 PM

have a read of Dans site, tis very good,pips don't get huge compared to seeds but are more unifom due to bing clones

My 2009 Giant Exhibition Record Breaking Show Onion Growing Attempt

**Pies** · 02-10-2010, 02:52 PM

Righto i think i might have made a mess of this

Earlier in the year i replanted one red onion and sure enough is ran up a flower spike,so i shaved it and waited and waited. Then after along wait i noticed some grass like stuff growing,i thought ok grass rather than pips it is.I didn't take to much notice and a few weeks later i noticed they hadn't grown much longer still only a few about 1/4 to 3/8"

On closer inspection i noticed it wasn't gras but pips that were sprouting

.S i removed the pips,which came off easily, and found tiny roots starting to grow.I have now planted these.They are now in a seed tray in my coldframe

So as its a bit early to be growing these what problems can i expect,i anticipate they will bolt in spring

**Snadger** · 02-10-2010, 07:20 PM

Originally posted by Pies View Post

Righto i think i might have made a mess of this

Earlier in the year i replanted one red onion and sure enough is ran up a flower spike,so i shaved it and waited and waited. Then after along wait i noticed some grass like stuff growing,i thought ok grass rather than pips it is.I didn't take to much notice and a few weeks later i noticed they hadn't grown much longer still only a few about 1/4 to 3/8"

On closer inspection i noticed it wasn't gras but pips that were sprouting

.S i removed the pips,which came off easily, and found tiny roots starting to grow.I have now planted these.They are now in a seed tray in my coldframe

So as its a bit early to be growing these what problems can i expect,i anticipate they will bolt in spring

October/November is the right time to be planting leek grass so I imagine onions will be the same?

The leeks I propagated from grass last last October are just starting to bolt now, so they've had 12 months growth!

Its good this experimenting lark innit!

PS I was told by a champion leek grower to cut off the stem and seedhead and put it in some water with Milton sterilising solution in it. Apparently the grass then romps away and comes off the seedhead very easily!

**zazen999** · 02-10-2010, 07:26 PM

Originally posted by Pies View Post

Righto i think i might have made a mess of this

Earlier in the year i replanted one red onion and sure enough is ran up a flower spike,so i shaved it and waited and waited. Then after along wait i noticed some grass like stuff growing,i thought ok grass rather than pips it is.I didn't take to much notice and a few weeks later i noticed they hadn't grown much longer still only a few about 1/4 to 3/8"

On closer inspection i noticed it wasn't gras but pips that were sprouting

.S i removed the pips,which came off easily, and found tiny roots starting to grow.I have now planted these.They are now in a seed tray in my coldframe

So as its a bit early to be growing these what problems can i expect,i anticipate they will bolt in spring

The grass IS the pips that sprout - you just don't notice until you take them off......

I plant the head as is, into a pot and then they make their own roots and when bigger, they can be separated out.

Announcement

How to get grass,pips from onions

How to get grass,pips from onions

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Latest Topics

Recent Blog Posts