Red Onions flowering

[Marb67]

The only year I have managed to get red baron onions past the stage of onion fly or just not growing well and they are producing flower heads. Can I save them ?

[nickdub]

I don't think you are going to be able to turn the flowering ones in to storable onions - pull them up a few at a time and use them either in salads or stir-fry, the flower heads are edible too.

[Marb67]

I don't intend to store them, just use them this season. Shall I leave the ones without flowers ?

[cheops]

I would cut off any flower heads and their stems and let them continue to grow. Red onions tend to bolt [flower] more readily than white onions. As stated above once they bolt they will not store but for you that’s not a problem. As required use the bolted onions first.

[nickdub]

Shall I leave the ones without flowers ?

Yes - I'd give the non-flowering ones a feed with high nitrogen content fertiliser and, unless you've got heavy rain forecast, a good watering.

[Marb67]

Something like blood fish and bone or chicken manure pellets ?

[nickdub]

Something like blood fish and bone or chicken manure pellets ?

I'd probably go for Sulphate of Ammonia as being cheapest, but if you prefer an organic alternative then may be seaweed .

[Greenleaves]

Join the club Marb, i cant grow red onions for toffee. The good news is tbey are still perfectly edible.

[Mikey]

It's been awfully dry of late, pinch of the flowers and give them a good glug. I've been watering daily for what seems like weeks now.

[Marb67]

I am just glad they got past the stage of onion fly which so far they haven't.

[Jay-ell]

My red onions tend to bolt more than the yellow ones. My potato onions are bolting as well - I just harvest the flower stems and have an omelette.

[Marb67]

Yes I am making a curry later so they can go into that.

[Scarlet]

Yes I am making a curry later so they can go into that.

I'm over to yours for dinner then