In today’s article, we will talk about unbolting onions. Learn what the term bolting means, its causes and symptoms, and what to do with your onion crop if bolting occurs. Let me introduce you to everything. If you want to know more, keep reading.
What does bolting mean?
When you hear someone say that their onion crop has gone into ears, it means that they produce flower stalks prematurely. This is usually caused by stress factors such as temperature fluctuations, especially warm weather followed by sudden cold snaps.
Bolting concentrates the plant’s energy from bulb development to flowering and seed production, often resulting in smaller bulbs and less flavor.
When onions set fruit, the quality of the bulb usually decreases, making the plant unfit for harvest or consumption.
What are the signs of bolting?
Signs that onion seedlings will rise are as follows:
Leaf Changes – The leaves may begin to change in appearance. Leaves may become less flexible or turn yellow. Central flower stalk – The most obvious sign is the appearance of a thick central flower stalk that extends from the center of the plant. The stems are taller and thicker than the leaves. Swollen flower buds – Flower buds form at the top of the central stem and eventually open. The buds may initially look like small, swollen tips.
If you notice any of these signs, there’s a good chance your onions are overgrown. Once the onion begins to produce ears, the bulbs stop growing.
Onions are best harvested and used as soon as possible. Unfortunately, I only harvested one bed of onions this year. I didn’t want them to go to waste, so I had to decide quickly what to do with them.
So, I made onion jam, and it was definitely delicious! Also great for vegetables, sandwiches, and pizza. This is the onion jam recipe I used this time.
conclusion
I hope today’s article was helpful. Our onions didn’t fully mature, but all was not lost. I was able to use it as onion jam, so I’ll try it again in the fall. Happy gardening!
