Heirloom onions

Barbee · May 4, 2009

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?

velikipop · May 4, 2009

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

Barbee · May 5, 2009

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?

velikipop · May 5, 2009

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

Barbee · May 5, 2009

Yes that helps totally. Thank you.

May 4, 2009	#1
Barbee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,818	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? __________________ *Barbee*

May 4, 2009	#2
velikipop Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Langley, BC Posts: 768	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 __________________ 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
Barbee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,818	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? __________________ *Barbee*

May 5, 2009	#4
velikipop Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Langley, BC Posts: 768	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 __________________ 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
Barbee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,818	Yes that helps totally. Thank you. __________________ *Barbee*

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