Winter Onions - Are they Ready ???

  • 6 Replies
  • 1993 Views
*

webby139

  • Full Member
  • **
  • Location: Tyne and Wear
  • 86
Winter Onions - Are they Ready ???
« on: June 16, 2011, 09:54 »
Hi All,

My winter onions are really bulbing up well now - I can see them above the soil.

I have quite a lot and really have no idea when i should pull them up. I understand under normal circumstances it's when the leaves turn brown.

BUT, can i pull some of the larger ones now - Basically pull maybe 10 or so and leave the rest. That way i could stagger the crop for eating etc ??

Cheers.
Keith

*

Nobbie

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Wilmslow, Cheshire
  • 1123
Re: Winter Onions - Are they Ready ???
« Reply #1 on: June 16, 2011, 09:58 »
Yes,

but just pick them as you need them, otherwise they tend to go a bit soft, although cutting the tops off reduces this effect.

*

bigben

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Sheffield
  • 1057
Re: Winter Onions - Are they Ready ???
« Reply #2 on: June 16, 2011, 10:01 »
Winter onions are usually seen as something to see you thru until your main crop of onions are ready for harvest later in the year. I have lifted and am using mine - this was partly because some have white rot but I discovered this because they were a reasonable size and I did not want to keep on buying onions when I had a 100 or so on the plot with another 400+ due later in the year.

If they are a usable size then use them because they do not store well. I would particularly do this if you have any others to come later in the year.

*

DD.

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Loughborough. a/k/a Digger Dave. Prettiest Pumpkin prizewinner 2011
  • 30465
  • Pea God & Founder Member of The NFGG
Re: Winter Onions - Are they Ready ???
« Reply #3 on: June 16, 2011, 10:13 »
They'll be full size when the tops flop over, but as others say - they're not good storers so if they're a useable size - use them.
Did it really tell you to do THAT on the packet?

*

webby139

  • Full Member
  • **
  • Location: Tyne and Wear
  • 86
Re: Winter Onions - Are they Ready ???
« Reply #4 on: June 16, 2011, 11:30 »
Great........
I was hoping for news like that.

Do i still do the normal thing ???

I.e. lift them - leave them for a day or 2 before using etc.
Also hang them up in the garage ????

OR

Can you use them right away ???

*

Aunt Sally

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Sunny Kent
  • 30460
  • Everyone's Aunty
Re: Winter Onions - Are they Ready ???
« Reply #5 on: June 16, 2011, 11:33 »
I agree with the above answers.  Just lift what you want to use now and leave the rest to mature and ripen.

*

Benandbill

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Location: Pontypridd, South Wales
  • 519
Re: Winter Onions - Are they Ready ???
« Reply #6 on: June 16, 2011, 20:34 »
I'm liking the sound of all this, mine are getting their skins, are all well above the ground, are a decent size and about 3 weeks ago I noticed about 4 out of 30 odd of them's leaves were on the deck.  At the time I guessed that was because an animal might have run across the plot as they're certainly not brown or withered.  All the leaves are still quite green and even puffy and ripe looking but now the majority of them are lying down.  I'll pull these up a bit now leaving just a few of the roots in the ground so the onions dry off.

Here's a question, I'm going to be looking for some space soon for butternut squash, caulis, or some PSB.  Bearing in mind caulis were there before I planted these onions, do you think I'l be able to grow anything here once i've got them all up, or should I leave the ground and treat it?



xx
Winter Onions - are these ready to pull?

Started by RookieJim on Grow Your Own

5 Replies
2146 Views
Last post June 23, 2013, 16:37
by DD.
xx
Getting Ready for winter

Started by lovemyveg on Grow Your Own

12 Replies
5737 Views
Last post September 13, 2009, 12:06
by pushrod
xx
allotment plot winter dug ready for planting

Started by clive f on Grow Your Own

5 Replies
2272 Views
Last post March 06, 2008, 22:34
by compostqueen
xx
what should be ready to plant out now for Autumn/winter harvesting?

Started by mjg000 on Grow Your Own

3 Replies
2211 Views
Last post July 14, 2015, 21:40
by Thrutchington
 

Page created in 0.358 seconds with 35 queries.

Powered by SMFPacks Social Login Mod
Powered by SMFPacks SEO Pro Mod |