Fat necked onions

BumbleJo · « **on:** July 25, 2015, 21:40 »

Hi folks, many of our onions this year have got fat necks so presumably won't keep. We had a winter green manure on that plot previously and I've read that too much nitrogen can cause this. Could this be the green manure causing it? Also we have quite alkaline soil. Opinions welcome!

Steveharford · « **Reply #1 on:** July 26, 2015, 08:34 »

What green manure did you use ? I was thinking of sowing some caliente mustard before my autumn sets.

sunshineband · « **Reply #2 on:** July 26, 2015, 10:24 »

Insufficient potassium can lead to thickened necks on the onion bulbs as well as too much nitrogen. I have found that a watering with Sulphate of Potash a couple of times helps. I do this about May time, and at this point also stop giving them any high nitrogen feed like chicken pellets too.

I am not sure that a previous green manure crop could be the cause though. Onions are greedy beasts and would have used up any nitrogen provided via green manure quite quickly imho

BumbleJo · « **Reply #3 on:** July 26, 2015, 11:22 »

Quote from: Steveharford on July 26, 2015, 08:34

What green manure did you use ? I was thinking of sowing some caliente mustard before my autumn sets.

It was a winter mix of clover, ryegrass and mustard. Only really saw one thing growing though, think it was the ryegrass.

BumbleJo · « **Reply #4 on:** July 26, 2015, 11:26 »

Quote from: sunshineband on July 26, 2015, 10:24

Insufficient potassium can lead to thickened necks on the onion bulbs as well as too much nitrogen. I have found that a watering with Sulphate of Potash a couple of times helps. I do this about May time, and at this point also stop giving them any high nitrogen feed like chicken pellets too.

I am not sure that a previous green manure crop could be the cause though. Onions are greedy beasts and would have used up any nitrogen provided via green manure quite quickly imho

I read somewhere that it may be a lack of phosphorus, (P) whereas Potash is (K) isn't it? I do find the whole NPK thing confusing!

Goosegirl · « **Reply #5 on:** July 26, 2015, 12:16 »

Bumblejo - NPK can be confusing but hope this helps a bit. Putting it simply, Nitrogen (N) is used mainly for leafy veg, potash or potassium (from its old name Kalium, hence the K) for anything that has flowers, and phosphorous (P) for roots. Too much nitrogen on veg that doesn't need a lot can make sappy growth, so think that could be the reason.

BumbleJo · « **Reply #6 on:** July 26, 2015, 20:08 »

Cheers Goosegirl, that explains it well, will copy that out and stick it up in the shed!
Jo.

Goosegirl · « **Reply #7 on:** July 27, 2015, 12:48 »

Thanks BJ. As well as that, it also depends on how much of these you already have in your soil. Nitrogen is easily washed out by rain so sometimes you need to add some more if you've had a lot of wet weather especially over winter.

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Fat necked onions

BumbleJo

Fat necked onions

Steveharford

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sunshineband

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BumbleJo

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BumbleJo

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Goosegirl

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BumbleJo

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Goosegirl

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