General information and discussion about cultivating onions, garlic, shallots and leeks.
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May 4, 2009 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 1,818
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Heirloom onions
An older gentleman gave me some onions last summer. He told me they were old heirloom sweet onions and to plant them in the fall. I am in zone 6a. So that's what I did.
They are up now and look to be getting ready to bloom already. I pulled several up tonight. They smell wonderful. So I most definitely want to save some for planting this fall. How do I do this? Just let them bloom and they'll make babies? Or?
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Barbee |
May 4, 2009 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Langley, BC
Posts: 768
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Were the onions you pulled in clusters of several or single bulbs? If it is the former then what you have are potato onions or multipliers. I think these bulbs can be saved and planted again in the fall. If it is the other type then you have to let them grow until they produce seeds, which usually happens in the second year, since most onions are biennials.
Alex
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I'll plant and I'll harvest what the earth brings forth The hammer's on the table, the pitchfork's on the shelf Bob Dylan |
May 5, 2009 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 1,818
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When I planted the onions, I planted one bulb every so far apart. Now, there are 3-4 onions with little tops in that space. So I suppose clusters? There are little bulb looking things growing on one green shoot in each clump now. Looks to me like going to seed, but I dunno?
I will take a photo if that will help?
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Barbee |
May 5, 2009 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Langley, BC
Posts: 768
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Sounds like they are multiplier onions. They will get bigger and you can leave some of the bulbs in the ground to produce more or pick and save until fall planting. Hope that helps.
Alex
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I'll plant and I'll harvest what the earth brings forth The hammer's on the table, the pitchfork's on the shelf Bob Dylan |
May 5, 2009 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SW Ohio
Posts: 1,818
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Yes that helps totally. Thank you.
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Barbee |
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