Topsetting Multiplier Onions - When are the baby sets ready?

outsiders71 · May 23, 2010

Hello,

I got some adult egyptian onions this spring and planted them in my containers. About 3 weeks ago they started sending up stalks. I want to save the baby sets so I can plant them elsewhere. I figured the stalks would grow like garlic stalks but they don't

.

Here's what they're doing now:

Some have started to "walk" to the ground, and this is where I thought you need to remove them before they implant in the ground. However the tops have bursted open with a mini-me stalk. When do the baby sets appear?

Alberta · May 23, 2010

give them a while to put on the little bulbettes (is that word, LOL) they will produce them on the tips of the stalks. You can then remove them and plant them on their own.

Alberta

outsiders71 · May 23, 2010

It seems kinda inefficient for these things to grow a 2 foot stalk with a bulb on top, to only burst open and grow more stalks

.

So the new mini-stalk will produce the baby sets, what are the other things then? More greenery? </fascinated my topsetters>

neoguy · May 24, 2010

I'm growing these for the first time as well. Mine have actually put out a third shoot. It appears these are Catawissa Walking Onions.

http://www.garys-genealogy.com/id85.htm

Medbury Gardens · May 24, 2010

As Alberta has mentioned it too early yet,give them at least two months.

neoguy- any bulblits that may form on the second & third shoots will not be of good enough size to be used for replanting,it will just lead to a general decline in the size of the bottom onions over time.

neoguy · May 25, 2010

Medbury, you're correct there is a significant decrease in the size of the bulbs at each additional shoot.

May 23, 2010	#1
outsiders71 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 150	Topsetting Multiplier Onions - When are the baby sets ready? Hello, I got some adult egyptian onions this spring and planted them in my containers. About 3 weeks ago they started sending up stalks. I want to save the baby sets so I can plant them elsewhere. I figured the stalks would grow like garlic stalks but they don't . Here's what they're doing now: Some have started to "walk" to the ground, and this is where I thought you need to remove them before they implant in the ground. However the tops have bursted open with a mini-me stalk. When do the baby sets appear?

May 25, 2010	#6
neoguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 610	Medbury, you're correct there is a significant decrease in the size of the bulbs at each additional shoot. Last edited by neoguy; May 25, 2010 at 10:39 AM. Reason: spelling

May 23, 2010	#2
Alberta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mastic, NY Posts: 212	give them a while to put on the little bulbettes (is that word, LOL) they will produce them on the tips of the stalks. You can then remove them and plant them on their own. Alberta

May 24, 2010	#4
neoguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 610	I'm growing these for the first time as well. Mine have actually put out a third shoot. It appears these are Catawissa Walking Onions. http://www.garys-genealogy.com/id85.htm

May 24, 2010	#5
Medbury Gardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Medbury, New Zealand Posts: 1,881	As Alberta has mentioned it too early yet,give them at least two months. neoguy- any bulblits that may form on the second & third shoots will not be of good enough size to be used for replanting,it will just lead to a general decline in the size of the bottom onions over time.