SoCal: Onions bolting already

No_Such_Reality 3/25/2016, 10:40 pm

Ah, Southern California weather, heat heat heat, cold.

My onions that I transplanted a little over a month ago have started bolting. Not too bad so far, maybe 10% of the bulbs.

I guess I'll let those go to flower and seed as I doubt the bulb have any size worth trying to save at this point.

Any suggestions on keeping the rest from bolting other than trying to keep their stress down with ample water in the heat?

I'd feel bad, but I did hit a couple farm stores and nurseries today and their sample beds were doing even worse for onions bolting.

**sanderson** 3/26/2016, 2:24 am

My October onions are bolting also. I think I will try trimming them (they are over a foot tall) and see what happens. Maybe let a couple bloom for the pollinators.

audrey.jeanne.roberts 3/26/2016, 2:03 pm

We had this issue last year in our very warm spring. I pinched the bud as soon as possible and then harvested the bulbs and used them as needed. They won't store well once they've put out a flower stem, but they were still tasty and useful. I just harvested them as I needed them for cooking - pulled, washed, chopped and cooked they did just fine.

**sanderson** 3/26/2016, 2:12 pm

I measured the leaves and they are +2' tall, not 1'. I need the bed in April for either winter squash or cantaloupe. Garlic in the same beds are doing fine, just not thickening yet.

StrongAsMeat 7/16/2016, 7:56 am

I don't have onions, but my spinach has all bolted. I barely got anything from them. What happens now? Is it done? Do I just cut off the bolts?

CapeCoddess 7/16/2016, 10:02 am

StrongAsMeat wrote:I don't have onions, but my spinach has all bolted. I barely got anything from them. What happens now? Is it done? Do I just cut off the bolts?

I don't know if spinach tastes any good once it's bolted. Try a piece. You could let a couple go to seed and save the seeds for fall planting or next year. That's what I do, and I pull out the rest for the compost pile.

CC

StrongAsMeat 7/17/2016, 9:09 am

Oh well, I guess I have free square then.

No_Such_Reality 7/17/2016, 10:45 pm

Sorry to hear about the spinach. I didn't even get mine to germinate. Or if I did, the sprouts were mowed down by the bugs before I saw them.

I know a lot of lettuce gets a bit bitter when it bolts, however, a soak in water can mitigate that, give that a try.

Sponsored content

SoCal: Onions bolting already

SoCal: Onions bolting already

Re: SoCal: Onions bolting already

Re: SoCal: Onions bolting already

Re: SoCal: Onions bolting already

Re: SoCal: Onions bolting already

Re: SoCal: Onions bolting already

Re: SoCal: Onions bolting already

Re: SoCal: Onions bolting already

Re: SoCal: Onions bolting already


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.