onion flowers

[taralastair]

Is it ok that some of my over-wintered onions have started to flower? Also do I wait for stems to go brown like normal onions before harvesting?

Thanks

Tara

[Chantal]

They are going to seed and need the seed heads snapping off PDQ or you'll lose the lot. As it is the ones that have started flowering will have a hard core in the centre and won't keep. Use them up as soon you can.

I had a huge problem with this last year and this year have grown most of my onion from seed which apparently stops the problem.

[taralastair]

Thanks for the reply. Do you mean that we need to snap the heads off ALL of them or just the ones that are flowering? All others look of, some brown bits at the top, which I expected. I assumed I was waiting for ends to go brown and then to harvest, is this correct?

Any help much appreciated.

Tara

[sally wright]

Dear Taralistair,
the flowers need to be removed with a sharp knife just below the bud. If you cut off the flower too low it will leave the hollow stem vunerable to filling up with water and rotting the bulb.
Regards Sally Wright.

[Tigger]

So - cut off the flowering ones and leave the non flowering ones.

[taralastair]

Again, thanks. Will follow your advice.
Tara