Red Onions- long not bulbus.

[hoodat]

Hey all, It's my first time planting onions. I could never understand why you would plant an onion just to get an onion. But this year I decided to go ahead. The only problem is, after some encouragement from a friend, I dug around one. It is not bulbus at all. Copmpletely strait down. The green tops look great in the garden, but really not the onions I was hoping for. Do any of you know why this has happened? Can I correct it? and When do I harvest these things anyhow?

Thanks so much!

Not all onions get round or have the flattened tomato shape. Some mature as torpedo shaped. If your onions are red you probably have the Italian red onions. They are very hot and best suited for cooking, especially Italian cooking, which is what they were developed for.

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

hoodat, I guess there is only one way to find out huh? I'll let ya'll know!

 

[SuperChemicalGirl]

Thanks, stubborn. Now I need to go outside and see what my onions look like... the tops are real tall, nice and green.

They were the only thing looking "really good" this year...

 

[SuperChemicalGirl]

They're not really bulbing either... but they have a ways to go yet methinks.

Now I've got a nice long green onion to incorporate into dinner

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

These are the most bulbus onions that are in the garden. The others, just long tuburous looking things. They smell like onions anyway!

Picked all of this on Sunday. I let some of the squashes get way too big. I didn't even know they were in there!

 

[Smiles Jr.]

SHF, did you notice that your red onions have very heavy and thick greens?

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

SHF, did you notice that your red onions have very heavy and thick greens?

This is my first attempt at growing onions. So...no. I don't really know what they are suppossed to look like. Tell me about the thick greens. Did I get the wrong kind, plant them incorrectly, all of the above? Fill me in Smiles.

 

[Smiles Jr.]

SHF, did you notice that your red onions have very heavy and thick greens?

This is my first attempt at growing onions. So...no. I don't really know what they are suppossed to look like. Tell me about the thick greens. Did I get the wrong kind, plant them incorrectly, all of the above? Fill me in Smiles.

Oh my-goodness no, you didn't do anything wrong. I have noticed that the white and yellow onions have thin tops and they dry out quickly while still in the garden. The red onions usually have thick, tough tops and they tend to stay green long after growing time is over. Just an observation, that's all.

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

Smiles, that is good news! I did use the entire onion including tops in a stir fry of summer squash and zucchini the other night. Not a real strong flavor. The tops actually smell more like onions than the actual bulb part. Oh well...they are pretty anyway! Next year I will try a different variety and try not planting them so deep.

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

They're not really bulbing either... but they have a ways to go yet methinks.

Now I've got a nice long green onion to incorporate into dinner

How are your onions looking? Just curious. I know that you are further north than I am, but wondering how you were making out.