[JohnB47]

I've grown quite a few welsh onion and expected to harvest whole plants, from the bunches produced, and use like spring onions. But I've seen an article that says that the green part only is harvested. Also, lots of pictures I see show flower heads, which normally means  a plant has gone a bit beyond the eating stage.

So what can I expect from these plants? How do you harvest and use them to eat. And what do you do about those flower heads?

Ta.

[allotmentann]

You can harvest the whole plant or just the green leaves. If you harvest the whole plant obviously you have to grow it again next year. If you just take leaves it will grow as a perennial and the bulbs will clump and you can split them eventually. I am leaving mine so that eventually I have enough to harvest a few bulbs as well as the leaves. The leaves can be used in the same way that you use chives, the flavour is a little stronger. I often snip them up an add them to salads as I really like the flavour.

[snowdrops]

I too am growing some from seed this year as I forgot to bring them from my old garden. I had a few established clumps,I used to dig a clump up,take of what I needed & replant the rest. I always used the whole onion,never thought of just using the leaves.They are considerably stronger though,particularly when older & bigger.

[JohnB47]

Thanks. You confirm what I hoped. After a time you can harvest some complete plantscfrom a clump and use it like a spring onion, or just harvest the stems. How longvdo theyvtake to clump - during the first year or longer?

[Salmo]

When they have formed a clump just break off offsets as you want them, leaving the mother plant growing. That is the whole point of welsh onions, a perennial onion that you keep picking. They are good for cooking but tend to be a bit strong and tough as spring onions.

[Beetroot queen]

I had never heard of one but i am off to read up about them as my veg patch needs some 

[gavinjconway]

Hi John - I planted 12 stems and a year later I had loads and loads of them. They grow/clump really quickly. I use them as green onions like spring onions mainly for stews/casseroles. Also freeze any spare for later use. To harvest I dig a portion of the clump out by putting my spade through it and dig it out like that. So I leave the remaining portion of the clump to keep growing on.  Once in a while I'll pull the whole clump out, use some and divide the rest up into new portions of about 2-6 and plant them again. Simples.. In a few months they will be ready to harvest.. This way you will always have them available.. except for the mid winter period. They overwinter no problem as well.