Your comments and tips

16 Mar 09, David (Australia - temperate climate)

Ferolyn: The black (sharp) bits in the "pom-pom" are seeds. Yes you will get onions off them if you plant them. No, once the Onion has flowered it is pretty useless as an onion. Evelyn: day length sets teh onions "growing' it's bulb. you need the onion plant to grow in height BEFORE it grows its bulb else you end up with "sort of" spring onions. In canberra with heavy frosts probably better to wait til mid winter before planting. Graeme: timing is the key. If you live near the bay then you should be good to plant mid-late april (depending on the variety) this will allow the plant to grow before it starts bulbing (longer days). I planted Hunter River Browns today (West Sydney) so I am expecting a harvest of HUGE onions Nov-Dec

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15 Mar 09, Graeme (Australia - temperate climate)

I have grown onions from seed and bought seedlings for years, but they always "bolt" and run to seed. What is the secret to growing them successfully? I don't want to give up just yet, but I am getting frustrated. I live in Melbourne which I think is classed as temperate

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15 Mar 09, Evelyn (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

I was wondering if it is too late to plant onions now in Canberra. I believe day length is the key but not sure which ones are which. Any assistance appreciated. PS. I have never grown onions before.

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14 Mar 09, Ferolyn (Australia - temperate climate)

I found a forgotten red onion in my cupboard few months ago and it already has aboiut 3inches of shoot. I planted it. Now I have a tall stem of about almost 3feet with a pretty pompom flower on it. Would i still have onion out of it? It now has little pids on the pompom. I broke one of its pods out of curiosity and it has little black round bits inside... is that the seed? Would i get onions if i plant those seeds?

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09 Jan 09, stewart (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Discovered onions growing (planted by previous owner of property) so I dug some up (brilliant white). All sizes and some throwing new ones off the roots?Cut a larger one up to find only about 4 layers and then solid onion? What's the go? Is this about storing and then they develop the other layers? I've not grown them before so have no idea.

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04 Jan 09, Jay (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

I have just pinched out the seed heads on a few that have formed. We are using them fresh from the ground right now, and are waiting for them to die back before lifting. First time onion grower, but am wrapped with the ease of growing and the harvest. All 150+ seedlings have produced 2 - 4" bulbs. Used seed trays for seed, them planted out at 5" spacing. No loses, and NO THINNING (I hate that bit!!!m lol re: carrots) Cheers!

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18 Dec 08, Steve (Australia - temperate climate)

Some of my creamgold and red onions are shooting to seed. Some have large healthy bulbs. Should I harvest them now?? Others have virtually no bulb. Can I cut the seed head off and let them continue to develop?

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15 Dec 08, mark (Australia - temperate climate)

please help,can someone please tell me the correct procedure for drying/storing onions.thankyou and merry xmas to all.

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03 Nov 08, Chris (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Alex, you can pick onions at any size to use right away, so you could use yours now. To keep onions they should harvested after the tops have fallen down and dried out.

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03 Nov 08, Alex (Australia - temperate climate)

My onion looks like this: i36.tinypic.com/otnl3c.jpg It's about the size of a commercial onion - do I need to leave it to mature or ripen, or is it ready to pull out and eat? Thanks

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