I’ve got some beautifully bulbous Radar onions growing at the plot. The problem is a few have started to split or burst. None of my gardening books mention this and I can’t find any info on the internet! Can anybody tell me what’s up with my onions?
Splitonions.
100 Square Metres 
Val.
I would imagine it is the amount of rain we have had recently and after growing slowly for a few months they have had a sudden growth spurt. This would cause them to split. They will probably not store so well as you will not get a covering of dry skin. Hope this helps.
Malc
Thanks Malc. Should I pick the crop now to avoid any more splitting, and will they store after being picked early?
Val, I doubt if they will store well as they will not develop a dry skin all over. As others say chutney may be the answer and there is always onion relish!
Well, I have lifted all my onions! About 30% are split… the rest may have a chance of drying in the sun… but of course it has started raining again!
yes, too damp! they might store – best in dry conditions obviously or it’s loads of onion chutney!
Onion chutney sounds good Julia! It’s sunny today so I might pick them all and let them lie out in the sun for a bit. Brilliant, I’ll have three empty beds to fill with new crops!
I reckon it’s to do with all that rain…rapid growth and moisture absorbtion.
I think you’re right Bridget… they are very juicy! I noticed the first one after a few days of rain was followed by a hot, sunny spell.
sorry can you please explain the phrase “a hot, sunny spell”
Eh… I can’t remember!
I agree with the others – too much rain 😦 A shame, but that´s how growing goes sometimes….
No more sad-face about my onions! I’ve taken it on the chin and I’m moving on to my scabby potatoes!
I concur with the wise words from others above. My Mum bought me some amazing onion marmalade from ‘Tracklements – ingredients are onions (41%), raw cane sugar, citrus pectin, spiced vinegar, redcurrant juice, olive oil, lemon juice. Awesome stuff.
Sounds good! Tracklement is a great word… never heard it before now! Nice one for a game of scrabble.
Oh, brother.. don’t you hate it when something like this foils your carefully laid gardening plans? On the bright side.. I can’t wait to see what you make out of these split onions:D
Neither can I! Fear not onions, I will preserve you… somehow!
Let it be chutney! And never let it be said that a plot of split onions got the better part of Val! 🙂
I’m feeling much better about my onions now. All the split ones have been eaten and the rest may just dry out successfully!
Thanks for the extended visit Spree. I see you have left a good few aprons around the place! 🙂