[tplimmer]

Can anybody offer advice on ripening large onions for showing.  I lifted my onions 10 days ago, have followed a few tips published elsewhere, but am seeing no change in their state.

[SnooziSuzi]

no idea mate but i'll ask my next door neighbour - his are wider than my waist!!!   :shock:

Welcome to the forums by the way!

[SalJ1980]

Hi tplimmer, welcome to the forums. No idea about your onions I'm afraid, mine are all destined for my stomach!  

[johnhar]

a few tips to get your onions to show state
peel top skins off to reach a perfect layer
put onions in a nice sunny position sitting on a layer of softwood sawdust
takes about 21 days from peeling to ripening of the exposed skin
stage at the show on brown rings on a black or white cloth background if allowed
have the single onion of the set to the front of the display then tier upwards towards the back
good luck used to show a lot but now only judge at shows

[Aunt Sally]

I've moved this topic to GYO as you are likely to get more responses here tplimmer.

Do pop back to the welcome forum and introduce yourself

[vegmandan]

I don't disagree with what's been said as everyone seems to have their own way but this is what I do.

2-3 weeks before show as said strip back to a full skin,and leave a good 2-3 inches of neck on and the roots,then I dry mine in a polytunnel or greenhouse placing the onions with their bases facing the sun on a blanket or old duvet.

Turn the onions by 90 degrees every day to get even ripening,then cut the roots and root plate off and tie the neck with raffia.

Here are a couple of pics of the colour change from last year in 14 days,mind you it was sunnier last year.

I sit mine on oasis rings as they don't leave any indentations on the base.

P.S I hope you do well at the shows because I've had a disaster this year with my onions. :cry:  :cry:

[fatbelly]

Dan,
What variety of Onions are they in the picture?
They look mighty fine to my untrained eyes, what is wrong with them for you to say you have had a disaster this year. I would like to learn.

[vegmandan]

Dan,
What variety of Onions are they in the picture?
They look mighty fine to my untrained eyes, what is wrong with them for you to say you have had a disaster this year. I would like to learn.

Those were last years "Kelsae" and were fine ,it's this year that's been a disaster. :cry: