Kitchen Garden Forum

Hi,

Most of my Red Onion sets have bolted despite being "heat treated". Is there a way to stop bolting in future ?

Thanks

Ian

I grow Robinsons Mammoth Red Onions from seed, so far no problems over the past 5 years

I think it’s a tough year to stop this tbh. the weather has been so unpredictable. It was 5 degrees last week and then 18 yesterday, I’m not sure you can account for that level of stress to plants. Popping one of those white fleecy things over them that allows the sun and water in but protects from the cold snaps might help?

Well heat treated sets shouldn’t bolt…..were they Autumn plant ones, Ian?
I have gone back to growing Onions from seed and this has stopped the bolting problem….for the Spring sowing/planting Onions, that is!

I grow a few shallots from sets, but I doubt I will ever go back to Onion sets again, starts the growing season off sowing your Onions in December in the propagator for me.

Me and my big mouth, watering the onions this morning and noticed 3 or 4 going to seed, will get them lifted later, oh well.

It’s just one of those years, this year, Burnie….

Well they turned out not too bad

I tried growing a few from seed this year for the first time, in a small area I could spare, happily none bolted, but I did only get 6 onions!

I'm growing some Japanese Winter Onions this year - again! They usually end up food for some other hungry critter when grown from seed as go in early; however this year I found some little Japanese seedlings for sale online which were a good buy. An even better deal when I saw how many plants as had about 5 seedlings per hole & all looking good despite some being smaller. Being greedy I planted them all, but means they are going to be in for months as pretty much the same harvest time as normal onions, so just got to decide which other varieties to put in the onion beds.
I'm thinking Spanish White as quite like the shape & they can be very big & some Rose reds. Bought these seeds from the French Farmer who sent the seedlings & they need to go in early September.

The "Konati"onion sets which I bought whilst on holiday in Paphos last December have,mostly,grown to an average of 8-12ozs.Agood usable size for the kitchen and I'm well chuffed that I took a chance on them and they taste good.Off to Paphos again December!!!

Those above are Red Baron, but I have already bought Robinsons Mammoth Red for next year, although they will actually be sown in a heated prop in December this year. I don't grow for show, so looking for tasty, kitchen sized onions that seem to resist bolting and they fit the bill. Quite a few Red Barons went to seed this year, not too many and they are nice, but I have grown Mammoth Red and White Onions for around 40 years now.