Hi Songbird,

To collect onion seeds, you told me a few years ago
to cut the stalks off about 10" or so below the
cotton ball and place them in a cardboard box.

I am not sure when to harvest though (and I am
sure you told me). Is it when the flowers close
or when the black seeds start to show. (I did
the show thing last years and lost 95% of the
seeds.)

Here is the current condition of the cotton balls:

https://imgur.com/nVhr98Tl.png

Many thanks,
-T

T wrote:
> Hi Songbird,
>
> To collect onion seeds, you told me a few years ago
> to cut the stalks off about 10" or so below the
> cotton ball and place them in a cardboard box.

yes, you want air flow so they can finish
drying without going moldy. out where you are
at it is likely arid enough you won't have too
many mold issues, but...

make sure they are spaced enough to allow air
flow around them. don't stack them deeply on
top of each other. if you have more than one
box top or flat or box, cross hatch them so
there is an air gap to allow air in and out.

> I am not sure when to harvest though (and I am
> sure you told me). Is it when the flowers close
> or when the black seeds start to show. (I did
> the show thing last years and lost 95% of the
> seeds.)

it can happen, but usually there are so many
seeds that even losing some should not ruin the
entire harvest.

> Here is the current condition of the cotton balls:
>
> https://imgur.com/nVhr98Tl.png

those look too green yet and may still be
developing. i wait until the capsules start
turning yellow and splitting a little bit.

songbird

On 7/1/23 20:08, songbird wrote:
> T wrote:
>> Hi Songbird,
>>
>> To collect onion seeds, you told me a few years ago
>> to cut the stalks off about 10" or so below the
>> cotton ball and place them in a cardboard box.
>
> yes, you want air flow so they can finish
> drying without going moldy. out where you are
> at it is likely arid enough you won't have too
> many mold issues, but...
>
> make sure they are spaced enough to allow air
> flow around them. don't stack them deeply on
> top of each other. if you have more than one
> box top or flat or box, cross hatch them so
> there is an air gap to allow air in and out.
>
>
>> I am not sure when to harvest though (and I am
>> sure you told me). Is it when the flowers close
>> or when the black seeds start to show. (I did
>> the show thing last years and lost 95% of the
>> seeds.)
>
> it can happen, but usually there are so many
> seeds that even losing some should not ruin the
> entire harvest.
>
>
>> Here is the current condition of the cotton balls:
>>
>> https://imgur.com/nVhr98Tl.png
>
> those look too green yet and may still be
> developing. i wait until the capsules start
> turning yellow and splitting a little bit.
>
>
> songbird

Thank you!

T wrote:
....
> Thank you!

you're welcome. :) i noticed today that there
are now enough seeds ripe enough on some flower
heads for the green onions to begin harvesting. so
that will happen tomorrow morning as soon as the
dew burns off.

my regular onions are just now flowering so i
will have some time yet before those seeds are
ready. i always enjoy watching the bees on the
onion flowers.

songbird