Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: LilacSandy on February 13, 2012, 12:16

Title: How do I get my Onion to flower?
Post by: LilacSandy on February 13, 2012, 12:16

Doe's anyone save their own onion seeds?  I grew this one last year and want to save seeds from it.  I brought it in from the lotty to a cold greenhouse in November, it is still very hard so I know it is not rotting but there is no sign of life at the top. 

I have brought it into the warmth of the kitchen to see if this will kick start growth, is this OK or should I just put it back into the greenhouse and wait and see?

Title: Re: How do I get my Onion to flower?
Post by: DD. on February 13, 2012, 12:22

Patience takes a lot of beating! I'd put it back in the greenhouse,  and not force it too much.

Title: Re: How do I get my Onion to flower?
Post by: LilacSandy on February 13, 2012, 12:27

Cheers DD, taking it back now

Title: Re: How do I get my Onion to flower?
Post by: Trillium on February 13, 2012, 15:38

I agree with DD. Onions are very daylight and heat oriented and will flower only when things are right for them, which is not now. You'll see flowers in July, and hopefully you have at least two of the same onion to pollinate each other. For the time being, put them in the greenhouse so they can set new roots, just as garlic does.

Title: Re: How do I get my Onion to flower?
Post by: leeks r us on February 13, 2012, 19:39

Hi lialacsandy i normally leave mine out of the pot in the cold greenhouse and as soon as it starts to sprout shoots from the top thats when i pot them up, its telling you it wants to grow and the time is right. Sitting onions on damp compost when it is not ready to grow can cause them to rot. hope that helps :D

Title: Re: How do I get my Onion to flower?
Post by: gobs on February 13, 2012, 19:40

Yes, I have done several times. You have to bear in mind, these are biannual plants. To get good seed, you need to leave them to get on with it.

I anyway, do never force them.

Title: Re: How do I get my Onion to flower?
Post by: LilacSandy on February 15, 2012, 10:23

Thanks guys,  I do have two, the other one I left in the ground at the lotty.  I hope it is alright or I will look rather silly if only one flowers.   :D

Title: Re: How do I get my Onion to flower?
Post by: engineer on February 15, 2012, 16:45

Am i right in thinking that to get seed i need

1. mature bulbs from last years crop?
2. two of the same variety to pollinate?
3. wait until they sprout and them pot them up?
5. leave outside?
4. luck!

Title: Re: How do I get my Onion to flower?
Post by: Trillium on February 15, 2012, 19:28

Yes, you need 2 year old bulbs since onions are biennial seed producers.

Yes, you need 2 of the same variety (more would be better but 2 will still do) because onions will cross pollinate with other onions (but not chives or leeks) and you might get something you don't really want. To ensure you get what you want, paper bag the onion flowers when they're close to opening to avoid 'contamination' and hand pollinate. For 2 plants, it's not a hardship or big deal. Rebag until the flower bud starts to swell, then remove bag.
Onion flowers cannot self-pollinate because the anthers shed pollen before the stigma ripens so it needs a receptive stigma of another onion plant. More bulbs would ensure adequate seed production.

Once the seed heads are pollinated and go crispy brown, you can harvest and save the seed for the next season.
The parent onion is now done for and can be composted or binned.