Nipping onion seed heads off

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Goosegirl

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Nipping onion seed heads off
« on: July 03, 2012, 15:14 »
My red onions have bolted somewhat and I have nipped the seed heads off as recommended. My OH has just raised the point that rain water could get into the hollow stems and cause rotting of the bulbs. Is this possible?
I work very hard so don't expect me to think as well.

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mattwragg94

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Re: Nipping onion seed heads off
« Reply #1 on: July 03, 2012, 16:39 »
ive never had a problem with rainwater rotting the bulbs, as once you nip the flower head off the stem normally shrivels up at the top

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gavinjconway

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Re: Nipping onion seed heads off
« Reply #2 on: July 03, 2012, 20:47 »
I eat these first as green onions like leeks.. every time I go to the plot I pick a few to eat, then cut and freeze the rest any surplus. I then have loads for the rest of the year to use from the freezer..
Now a member of the 10 Ton club.... 2013  harvested 588 Kg from 165 sq mt..

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Trillium

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Re: Nipping onion seed heads off
« Reply #3 on: July 04, 2012, 03:48 »
It seems like these days almost anything is possible. If you're worried, then snip off the actual seed head and bend over the rest of the seed stem. It will virtually shut out any rain while it dies down.

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webby139

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Re: Nipping onion seed heads off
« Reply #4 on: July 04, 2012, 10:23 »
Does nipping the head off actually work ??

Mine are doing the same and i really don't know what to do.

Pull up or nip off and leave.

I read that they can just die and rot away - Is this right.

I really want to nip off and see what happens but i'm a little scared of causing damage to others around them.

Cheers,
Keith.

By the way - WHY ONLY THE RED ONIONS?? All my others are fine !!!!!
Keith

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mattwragg94

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Re: Nipping onion seed heads off
« Reply #5 on: July 04, 2012, 12:19 »
Hi kieth - you have to nip the seed heads off im afrraid, if you dont you wont have anything to harvest as all the bulbs stored energy will be used up to make the seeds.

 And yes by nipping the seed heads off it does allow the onions to swell, and it WONT kill the onions. Onion plants do die - but the bulb that they form stores and doesn't rot(thats if they haven't got white rot or bolted - unfortunately yours wont store for very long due to them bolting)

and to answer you third question - its not always red onions - for example my white and red onions have bolted this year - im affraid bolting is usually brought on by and odd season ;)

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Stevens706

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Re: Nipping onion seed heads off
« Reply #6 on: July 04, 2012, 12:37 »
I nip the flower heads off as high up as I can, the stalk just under the flower head isn't hollow, so no rain gets in
Paul

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Goosegirl

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Re: Nipping onion seed heads off
« Reply #7 on: July 04, 2012, 15:00 »
Makes sense, though I have read you should nip the stem with the bud right at its base - hmm - not sure why. Re- bolting onions, I have had both red and white bolt, but this year it just seems to be the red ones.

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webby139

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Re: Nipping onion seed heads off
« Reply #8 on: July 05, 2012, 07:47 »
Hi all,

thanks for that. i nipped off the heads about an inch from the top and folded over about another 2 inches down.

But the are still hollow allowing a bit water in - so i put a little garden wire around the tops to close up the hole.

Hope that doesn't do anything real bad to them though.

Cheers,
Keith.

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snowdrops

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Re: Nipping onion seed heads off
« Reply #9 on: July 05, 2012, 08:57 »
reds are more prone to bolting than whites something to do with heat treated sets I think. But it also has something to do if they have periods of drought.
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Goosegirl

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Re: Nipping onion seed heads off
« Reply #10 on: July 05, 2012, 15:54 »
Neither varieties are heat-treated and were planted at the same time, so subject to the same weather, temps etc. Maybe the reds like a hotter or cooler temp?

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gavinjconway

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Re: Nipping onion seed heads off
« Reply #11 on: July 05, 2012, 21:26 »
Seem a lot of work to tie each one of them up after removing the heads... why not just dig them up, cut and freeze.. would save a lot of time.

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Goosegirl

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Re: Nipping onion seed heads off
« Reply #12 on: July 06, 2012, 15:46 »
Whatever you do, they need warmth and sun to ripen the bulbs.


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