Red onions

[Karen Atkinson]

three of my red onions had seed heads yesterday. None of them have yet flopped over. They re still quite green and lush looking. Should I think about harvesting before any others run to seed. Plus, I just lopped off the seed heads  - would this save the onons or have I lost them do you think?

[Karen Atkinson]

[ed dibbles]

Pinch off the flowering heads but make sure you use those ones first when they are harvested.

If your onions are still green and sturdy leave them to grow further, again if more try go to seed repeat the head pinching out but use those first.

Once harvested and dried you will have a mixture of types - thick necked ones to use right away (these are the ones that tried to flower) and thin necked ones for storage.

[caroline7758]

When taking off the seedheads, is it best to take just the top or the whole stem?

[ed dibbles]

Probably better to nip the only flowering tip out since cutting it closer to the bulb may introduce damp or rot since the cut would be larger further down.

:)

[cornykev]

Most my red onions go to seed, just pinch of the head as soon as they appear, I don't think they grow any bigger once they have bolted.  :-\