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Old March 19, 2014   #1
Worth1
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Default Two Questions On Onions.

I have two questions on onions.
First question as Salix said the white onions are bolting as it is thier second year.
I have no idea what they are because I forgot, They are supposed to be sweet onions and they are.
What I would like to do is save seed from them.
Would it be worth it, I mean really what could be the results.

Second question.
If I were to plant seeds in the fall and control the environment so they dont think it ever was winter how long could I keep them going?
I think they recommend planting seeds in the fall here.
How cold does it have to get for an onion to think it is going on its second year and bolt.


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Old March 19, 2014   #2
RebelRidin
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I may well be wrong (often that's the case) but I think onions annual schedule will be determined by day length changes rather than temps.

As for the seeds I think the same rules apply.... were they hybrids or no.....
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Old March 19, 2014   #3
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Originally Posted by RebelRidin View Post
I may well be wrong (often that's the case) but I think onions annual schedule will be determined by day length changes rather than temps.

As for the seeds I think the same rules apply.... were they hybrids or no.....
I have no idea if they were hybrids if they were what would it matter it is only an onion.
I know that sounds stupid.

I thought the daylight caused bulbing and getting cold and warming up caused them to bolt.
We need short daylight onions here in Texas.
They only ones I know I have are Texas 10 15 Y onions they are yellow and aren't bolting--Yet.
I also have some sweet red ones I dont know what they are either.
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Old March 19, 2014   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Worth1 View Post
I have no idea if they were hybrids if they were what would it matter it is only an onion.
I know that sounds stupid.

I thought the daylight caused bulbing and getting cold and warming up caused them to bolt.
We need short daylight onions here in Texas.
They only ones I know I have are Texas 10 15 Y onions they are yellow and aren't bolting--Yet.
I also have some sweet red ones I dont know what they are either.
Worth
I know higher temps/water stress will hasten blooming in their second year (I've seen that myself) but I'm not sure that temp changes triggers the year1/year2 switch. Hopefully someone who actually knows will wade in.

I think since you've got them there you should save some seed and see what comes of it... adds a bit of interest to things ....
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Old March 19, 2014   #5
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I'm planning to save seed from some leeks I overwintered. First time for me, so I read this page, scroll down to find Onions:
http://www.seedsave.org/issi/904/expert.html

Onion flowers don't self pollinate, but there are many flowers in each umbel so they can pollinate each other (with help of bees!). They say there's some inbreeding depression so save seed from more than one plant and mix them. Also, they could cross pollinate with other flowering onions in the area - but how likely is that? Unless you are growing seed of more than one kind.

Don't know about the Texas planting, it may be though that you can plant seed in fall, and not worry too much about bolting when they come on the next spring. I think the plants would be too immature to bolt.

You can grow onion sets from seed, then save the little ones to start the next year... sometimes it's possible they will bolt, but I think not that common.
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Old March 20, 2014   #6
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I wonder if onions could cross pollinate with chives? I always let my chives flower and go to seed. But maybe their flowering period would not overlap with onions.
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Old March 20, 2014   #7
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Quote:
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I wonder if onions could cross pollinate with chives? I always let my chives flower and go to seed. But maybe their flowering period would not overlap with onions.
Chives (Allium shoenoprasum) will not cross with onions, leeks or any other Alliums like garlic chives (Allium tuberosum)
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Old March 21, 2014   #8
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GO for it worth!!!!
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Old March 21, 2014   #9
Worth1
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I think I will thanks everyone.

I believe the red mystery onion is Creole which is not a hybrid so to speak.
The white one seems to be some sort of bunching onion.
Or at least some of them.
some but not all seem to be deviding.
I have plenty of room for onins.

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