[gillybru]

Hello all - I found 2 bags of pickling onions in my fridge - 2 months beyond the sell-by date, so past crisp pickling freshness.  I wondered whether instead of putting them in the compost heap, I could plant them and produce my own - or is that idea simply daft?  Thanks!

[Yorkie]

If you have got the space and weren't going to use it for anything else, you've got nothing to lose.  However, I suspect that they aren't likely to make it to full maturity.  Nothing ventured, etc!

PS Welcome to the site

[Trikidiki]

I think you'd find they would bolt fairly quickly. If you want to make use of them I would just plant them close together and just harvest the leaves and use like 'welsh onions' or chives, not sure how strong they would taste. Then chuck them on the compost, though some people say you shouldn't put onions in the compost.

[DD.]

Commercially bought pickling onions tend to be a variety that only grow to a small size. They are harvested as a small, but mature onion. If planted, they will carry on with their second year of growth and naturally flower.