Non-Overwintering Overwintered Onions - questions....

[Shadylane]

As suggested last year, by Onion Guru Zazen, I used regular red onion seeds (Red Baron) for overwintering under a cloche as I couldn't find any Japanese Seeds. Funnily enough the ones that didn't get cloched (not enough cloche) are doing better than the others and seem to coming along well.

So seeing as they're not Japanese does anyone know when they'll be ready, (or do I pick em before they go to seed seeing as they're in their 2nd year) and also how well do they store? Are they likely to be more prone to rot as they've stood out all winter (under snow) or if they're lasted this long should they be fine? Confusion. Thanks for reading

[Alan Glass]

Hello Shadylane,

I also have planted Red Baron last month, but maanged to sow 'sets'. About 60 were planted and so far 5% have started to go to seed. Any Ideas please how long they will last and if they will reach maturity.

[rustylady]

Hi Alan. I'm surprised your onions have started to go to seed already. If they've only been in a month they should just be producing leaves.

[zazen999]

As suggested last year, by Onion Guru Zazen, I used regular red onion seeds (Red Baron) for overwintering under a cloche as I couldn't find any Japanese Seeds. Funnily enough the ones that didn't get cloched (not enough cloche) are doing better than the others and seem to coming along well.

So seeing as they're not Japanese does anyone know when they'll be ready, (or do I pick em before they go to seed seeing as they're in their 2nd year) and also how well do they store? Are they likely to be more prone to rot as they've stood out all winter (under snow) or if they're lasted this long should they be fine? Confusion. Thanks for reading

Were these out all winter last year and still didn't go to seed? How good is that?

Anyway - their leaves should have died back by now so that you can store them. I'd start using them and as soon as the first one looks like it is going to seed; take the lot up, let them dry off and then use/store them.

[Shadylane]

This thread is a bit old - no one replied, but still - better late than never. They got pulled up ages ago. Well not ages, but they're mixed up with the summer ones drying/waiting for me to net/string them when I get a round tuit. They didn't go to seed but didn't get very big either, but to be fair I didn't water or feed them much. Well I didn't feed em at all. I'm trying again this year but not going to bother with the cloche - red baron are obviously well hard if they coped with last years winter.

Hi Alan, August is either way too late or a bit early to be planting sets. But it's very odd that they've gone to seed already. Did they get any water? I'm shocked that rusty ( ) didn't ask you, but whereabouts are you? If you put your location in your profile it can help the experts (not me ahem) on here advise you

[zazen999]

Never saw it at the time Shady...didn't even notice the date until you just said.

[Alan Glass]

Hi Shadylane and Rustylady, Only joined recently and this is my first exchange of info. Am based in County Kildare. Maybe the onions were planted 6 weeks ago. Anyway the high winds over the last two days have broken a few stems. I took over the allotment in early June, a little late to get a full crop. I have now tried to use up all the area hence the reason for using onion sets at this late stage. I hope they will survive.

[zazen999]

Alan - could you post a photo? I'm intrigued.

[Florence Fennel]

This is very interesting. Hope you can post a photograph Alan and welcome to the Vine!

[Two_Sheds]

Alan, did you buy your sets really cheap? In a sale?

Overwintering onion sets have just started to come into the shops, and can be planted now until it gets to cold to garden: they will be ready for harvest June/July

Then we plant our main crop onion sets in early spring, for a crop in late summer

[Shadylane]

The ones that went to seed will be goners I would think. Sometimes they bolt when mature and you simply use them up quick (as they won't store) and take the flower stem out when you prep them as it will be tough. But I expect they're still quite wee and probably won't get much bigger. The ones that haven't gone to seed may be okay but really I don't know. But yeah as the others have said, show us a piccie

[Alan Glass]

Thanks to all those nice replies. Cannot post a pic yet but I will in a few weeks time due to other commitments.

The onion sets were old stock on the shelf in 'Dunnes' stores all summer. I guess another reason for them to seed.

[Two_Sheds]

The onion sets were old stock on the shelf ... I guess another reason for them to seed.

that's THE reason they went to seed

They were meant to be planted early spring, and harvested late summer. If they aren't harvested and just left in the ground, they will bolt (flower). The onion knows this: so if it isn't planted at the right time, it will still proceed to bolt when it should.

You can't delay sowing onions like you could with a daffodil perhaps. Daffs come back every year, but onions don't

That's clear as mud like isn't it?

[Alan Glass]

Oh well some you win some you loose. Checking 'Grow your own' mag. at the weekend, it suggested growing Garlic, Broad beans, peas now. Something else to try and fill up the patch over winter.

[Florence Fennel]

Good Luck Alan, it's a learning curve. Buy some onion sets and try again, they can go in now along with the garlic and broad beans.