Red Onion - Sprouted indoors - planted?

[chris]

Probably a completely silly thing to do, but my wife didnt think one would grow, so when a red onion in our veg holder had begun to sprout I planted it outside and since it's grown two tall shoots, with what look like flower bulbs on top, as well as some leaves..... Will this in turn grown into other onions, or shall I just get rid of it? Where do the onions actually grow - under the ground? Where do they grow from, nodules from the roots?

Thanks again,

Chris

[Flummery]

It is going to seed, or bolting, as it's called. Onions are produced at ground level, they sort of sit on the soil. You normally grow them either from seed (which will be produced at the top of your flower shoots) or from sets, which are small onions that have been treated to halt their growth so they start again when you plant them.

[lynda66]

you can save the seed though and plant it, or just let it fall on the ground, and in theory, they should grow new onions

[Demeter]

Onions are biennial. They grow leaves and a bulb in Year 1 and then they grow more leaves and flowers/seed Year 2, then they reach the end of their life cycle and they die. If you have a bulb that has sprouted then you won't get more onions this year, but if you're lucky - sounds like you have been! - you'll get seed and can sow that in due course for more onions next year! I planted 2 that sprouted, one died the other one is still going but no sign of a flower. Oh well, it was only an experiment anyway

[chris]

Sorry to bump this again, but thought I would rather than start a new thread. The onion plant has grown to about a metre tall now, and I see a bulb on top (I presume it's a flower?) -- but not sure where I can harvest the seed from? Do i need to wait to see if this bulb thingy flowers, and then where are the seeds?

Sorry - complete newbie to all this!

[zazen999]

Hi
the bulk will open and inside will be a fab flower with lots of little flowers on stems. Google allium flowers and you'll see some. These usually go a shade of pink/red/purple and then start dying back. Inside each end of each little stem will be 3 little pods. These will slowly open up and inside will be little black seeds - usually 3 of them. It will take a good while before this happens so just keep an eye on it. Once you can see the little black seeds, you can harvest the head, pop it in a paper bag and as it dries the seeds will fall out into the bag.