Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Show/giant onions splitting

AllyblueeyesAllyblueeyes Posts: 420
in Problem solving

Morning everyone,  Every August bank holiday we have a village show and a number of villagers compete for the biggest onion (😳) This year, my dear old dad has grown some absolute corkers but with only about a month to go til the show, he has just rung to inform me that they are beginning to split ..... I’ve tried googling it but can’t find cause or remedy - if indeed there is one. I’m guessing it’s weather related? 

Any onion growers out there who can offer some advice on what can be causing it and if there’s anything we can do to prevent it.

Thanks in advance 👍🏻



Posts

  • Fran IOMFran IOM Posts: 2,872
    Just bumping it up for you @Allyblueeyes in the hope you get a response 😊
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    My slightly informed guess (as the sister of an onion growing farmer) is that their skins have set (possibly due to the hot and dry conditions) so any watering now will split the skins.

    I would harvest and dry them off now.  

    Don't know whether that means they will be ineligible for the show ... it depends on the rules.  

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • AllyblueeyesAllyblueeyes Posts: 420
    Thank you Fran and hello Dove, I reposted this under the veg section and lovely Joyce Goldenlily replied yesterday. She said the same as you Dove. Dad panicked and has lifted them ..... fortunately not all are affected but sadly some of the largest ones are. Poor old dad. I’ll let you know how he gets on.  Thanks again 👍🏻😀


  • Fran IOMFran IOM Posts: 2,872
    Pleased you got a response @Allyblueeyes courtesy of Dove although you had already had one from Joyce but both in agreement.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Yes, watering after a certain stage will split the skins as they swell again.
Sign In or Register to comment.