Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2020 17:50:24 GMT -5
My main crop onions began falling over immediately after the solstice, some even before. I let them go until this morning and pulled them all. I think I said earlier that they were a mixed bag, some really nice big ones and some golf balls.
I wonder about you fellow up North of me (I'm at 36.14 N.) and over on the E. coast? Have your onions matured?
|
|
|
Post by paquebot on Jun 24, 2020 21:16:21 GMT -5
It seems so odd to read about mature bulbs only 3 days into summer. That's the difference in location and type. With the exception of the bottle onions, not even any swelling until a few days ago. Up to then, it's been all huge tops to show a big root system. That means a promise of some big bulbs. Number of leaves indicate the number of rings which in turn determines size. Bottle onions with 5, Redwing with 8, and Patterson with 10. None should be fully mature until mid-August here.
Martin
The truth is more important than the facts.
|
|
dirtguy50
Pro Member
My avatar got in trouble for digging in the garden
Posts: 255
Zone:: 6b
Joined: February 2014
|
Post by dirtguy50 on Jun 24, 2020 22:00:28 GMT -5
oxankle2, could you please post your zone information in your profile. Lat/long probably doesn't help most folk with understanding what is going on in your garden. like paquebot, that seems early for onions, in many areas, to get ready and start to pull and process for storage. Your zone/area would be a big benefit to us.
|
|
|
Post by Laura_in_FL on Jun 25, 2020 10:59:30 GMT -5
And June seems late for onions around here. In Georgia where the Vidalia onions come from, harvest happens in mid-April. When I have grown onions, I had to harvest even earlier.
|
|
|
Post by paquebot on Jun 25, 2020 11:43:03 GMT -5
Ox is 7a and southern part of the Intermediate onion zone.
Martin
The truth is more important than the facts.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2020 17:46:39 GMT -5
So, we all learn something. Harvesting onions in April? I really need to save the largest of my onions for seed and see if I cannot get a crop that does well here.
No, I haven't time for that---it would be pure foolishness. Better to concentrate on getting good results from the ones I buy. Those in my raised bed, the ones I could tend and fertilize, water and weed, did very well. Those in the main garden were a mixed bag, and a different variety.
|
|
|
Post by farmerjack41 on Jun 26, 2020 11:46:32 GMT -5
@oxankle2, after you pull your onions, do you leave the tops on and let them set in the sun to "cure a little" before putting in storage?
|
|
ponyexpress
Junior Member
Posts: 86
Zone:: 6b
Favorite Vegetable:: alliums
Joined: June 2020
|
Post by ponyexpress on Jun 26, 2020 13:16:52 GMT -5
My onions are bulbing now. I take terrible notes. Looking at some old photos, I think I harvested some the end of July and early August. I'm in zone 6b Massachusetts. Planted my seedlings the second week of April.
|
|
|
Post by paquebot on Jul 21, 2020 20:01:36 GMT -5
Mine are suddenly only days from pulling. They always amaze me with their sudden growth spurt and then done. Only the dozen or so Ringmaster are still standing. Their bed is light soil so no need to rush pulling. As long as the roots are still alive there is no rush to stop them.
Martin
The truth is more important than the facts.
|
|
|
Post by september on Jul 22, 2020 9:40:31 GMT -5
I have three varieties, and one has flopped about two weeks before the others (a red from Nikitovka Seeds, can't remember the variety off hand.) The pink hybrid Blush is about half down, and happily Ailsa Craig is still mostly vertical. I love a big fat onion, but actually the mediums are more useful for cooking and storage space and you don't end up with a half an onion in the fridge all the time.
|
|
|
Post by bestofour on Jul 25, 2020 21:06:08 GMT -5
wonder how onions do in my zone 7b. I wouldn't want to plant many because my husband doesn't eat them but I'd like to do it for fun.
|
|
|
Post by paquebot on Jul 26, 2020 10:20:32 GMT -5
bestofour, you would be intermediate zone for onions but closer to long day than short day. Candy and Red Candy App;e would be two best ones for you. Any long day variety would grow OK but would not get the same size as I would. With the present hot and dry weather, my onions have flopped and the tops no longer growing. Patterson, Redwing, and the Amish bottle now stashed in bread crates to dry and cure. Rain is expected tonight. Although the onions are fairly clean, I'll let them get rained on once. Then into the shed until hard frost. Martin The truth is more important than the facts.
|
|
ponyexpress
Junior Member
Posts: 86
Zone:: 6b
Favorite Vegetable:: alliums
Joined: June 2020
|
Post by ponyexpress on Jul 27, 2020 16:17:12 GMT -5
I have harvested about a quarter of my onions. Most of the tops are still standing strong but in some cases, they're drying up. If the tops fall over, I will pull and let them dry in the field for a few days.
I'll post some pictures later.
|
|