I hasten to add I haven't grown this onion.....I've been given it to have a go at getting my own seed and pips from. It weighs about 7lbs.
If anyone has any tips on when I should be planting it and what to do exactly feel free to pass comment.
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First remove a few layers of skin, ensuring you have a clean surface at the root plate to avoid any roots growing up the onion skin, eventually damaging and causing rot to set in.
I normally pot mine up into a 4-6 litre pot using a good compost with plenty of nutrients to keep them growing away. Don't force the onion into the compost make a slight indent and lay on top.
Start them off on a warming mat if you have one just until the onion holds firm and has rooted. Move to a cool light place to avoid it going to seed to quick or you will have to pollinate yourself.
I normally thin each onion down to one or two seed heads as they can throw quite a few.
Onions for seed need planting around December, first or second week for me. Don't be fooled in planting to soon as the onion wont do anything.
Getting onion pips is not hard, getting them to come at the correct time is and its a matter of trying to hold them back as much as you can in a cool area. Once the seed has emerged and started to form just cut it all off (not the head, just cut the seed hard back) and this will result in pips. You can even leave a cluster of seed on the head and have half seed and half pips. You don't get many pips per head tho, not like a leek. Pips are tricky and you could be wasting your time, but seed should be fine. Watch out for cross pollination once the seed head has emerged.
Howdy. I'm curious about a couple of things if you don't mind humoring questions: What particular variety of onion is that? Is "pip" a synonym for "seed"?
Hi Ken
The variety is bound to be a from a Kelsae onion strain that top growers have continuously reselected over many years. You sometimes see it called Ailsae but I think they're pretty much the same thing.
Growers select their best looking bulbs each season and set them for seed in order to pass on only the best qualities.
Pips are basically tiny onions that are identical to the parent in that they will have the same shape and genetic make up.
Hope that helps?
I'll be posting pics of these as and when I have grown them to that stage which should be about this time next year!!!
Simon
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