[hubballi]

I planted some Japanese onions last Autumn in a large container. So far they are still the same size as I planted then except long green stems and some slimy under the soil. They were brand new bought when I planted them. Is this normal ?

[Yorkie]

Can you post a piccie? 

[hubballi]

No, it's dark out there ;-)

[Yorkie]

 

Tomorrow perhaps if it's not snowing!!

[Ice]

No, it's dark out there ;-)

Surely your camera has a flash?

[catweazle]

i thougth the bulb doesnt swell untill summer?

[hubballi]

i thougth the bulb doesnt swell untill summer?

I'll take that :-)

[Ice]

You get a harvestable crop in June.

http://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/onion-shallot/grow-onion-set.php

[boogaloo]

Glad you asked that question! I put some Japanese overwinterings ones in - plants are looking really strong and healthy, but I had a peek at one today and there's not bulb at all to speak of.

Is the same kind of true of leeks? I put some in at the same time, and there's not that much of a 'shaft' - the leaves are fairly loose/

[DD.]

If you planted leeks in autumn to overwinter, you have the timings completely wrong.

The seed are sown round about this time of year, with a view to the plants being put out in June/Julyish.

[gavinjconway]

Hi  hubballi - Onions grow from the set that you plant - the set is food store for the plant to started growing. Once it has grown a lot - say maybe an inch diameter it will start to bulb.

Before this it will be like a pencil then a marker pen then an inch then bulb... So the (my) winter sets are now about 1/2 " getting to marker pen thickness and will now grow fairly quickly to begin bulbing in about May.. I normally reap my first Jap's on 1st May each year as green onions, boiled for a few minutes and covered in white sauce.. At this stage they only just about starting to bulb. Also great in stews and on the BBQ..

Hope the quick lesson on the onion life cycle is helpful   

[hubballi]

Thanks. I will wait for May/June

[hubballi]

Some are starting to get slightly wider and show signs of a bulb. When is the best time to harvest when they will be biggest ?

[DD.]

Harvest any time you think they are big enough to use.

They will be at their largest, just like spring planted ones, when the foliage goes yellow and flops over.

[boogaloo]

If you planted leeks in autumn to overwinter, you have the timings completely wrong.

The seed are sown round about this time of year, with a view to the plants being put out in June/Julyish.

Ungh guess I misunderstood that then! Beginners luck in my case then. They're musselburghs, and I planted them around October last year. That said, they're now looking great - really thick and healthy. Fried one up with some bacon this morning and it was delicious.

My japanese onions, after being pretty inactive for ages have suddenly got a rush on and have swelled hugely over the last 2 weeks. Looks like they don't need much longer until they're perfect.