Vegmonkey and the Mrs.

    Senshyu                             Red Baron

We have about 180 onions in the ground at the moment if i remember rightly. The Japanese overwintering ones - Senshyu - have been in from about September (about 40). One is a nice size, and is ready for eating, 15 or so are small and edible, and the rest are weedy. Two have bolted. Bolting is bad as the onion grows a hard stem right though it, and tops this off with a flower…if i let it!

The purpose of planting these was to use the ground overwinter but it’s getting too close to the summer now, and they may have to come out as small onions, rather than full blown ones. Better than nothing though.

In this years onion bed, i planted about 120 sets (60 red, 60 white). Last year i bought heat treated ones from Wilkos. They were cheap and, being heat treated, didn’t run to seed. This year i thought i’d try a couple of different varieties, bought untreated sets from a reputable garden centre, and about 10 have already bolted. Interestingly, it is only the red ones that have bolted. The bolting is more than likely due to a combination of the hot weather, and the distinct inability of the raised beds to maintain any moisture!

Aside from this, the rest of the onions are growing very nicely and are we are well on course to produce about 150 onions from 2m square. I’ve chopped the bolted ones up, got rid of the hard centres and filled a bowl in the kitchen…we’ll be having those tomorrow night.