[jjones1941]

How do I get my onions to grow into normal onions instead of going to seed and not having the shape I see in the grocery store?

Thank you

[Scleros]

The vegetable available at the store has behind it years and millions of dollars of research and investments in commercial growing facilities optimized for the specific vegetable's growth. Home growing is a little more hit or miss, but good results can often be achieved by providing the best possible growing conditions and nutrients required by the plant for your location. Understanding what the vegetable needs for optimum growth is a start. See University of Georgia Cooperative Extension: Onion Production Guide or your local extension office. Not all vegetables can be grown well in all locations. Many have specific temperature, moisture, nutrient, lighting, or other needs at particular times of their growing cycle. Replicating the natural environment in areas non-native to the plant can be a challenge. Flowering and seed production tends to be lighting (photoperiod) or temperature dependent.

[jjones1941]

I was once told that by stepping on the stock (bending it over), that the underground ball would grow and not let the upper part continue to mature. Does this sound logical?

[tickle]

Actually jj, you are partially correct. When the onion matures above ground, you bend the top over allowing the bulbous onion underground to mature into basically what you see in the grocery store.

I used to plant extensive garden in Michigan and this is how we grew the onions so they could mature properly.

Tick

[jjones1941]

Thank both of you for your input


Jj