Why Do My Onions Sprout?
Why do my onions/potatoes sprout?
And when they do, can I still use them?
The short answer to the first question is: “They think it’s spring.”
To the second it is: “Yes!”
Depending on their variety, all potatoes and onions will try to sprout after a certain number of days. At that point, they assume spring has arrived and it’s time to grow again.
They can be fooled for a time by cool dark places. But, without spraying them with anti-sprouting agents, they will poke their heads up eventually 🙂
What to do when that happens? Well, for potatoes, you can simply pull the sprouts off. Each regrowth will use some of the potato’s stores, so they may start to look dried out or wrinkly. However, they are still fine to eat, albeit harder to peel.
Onions are a bit more complex. That sprout, if left, will eventually grow into a flower head. Because of this, that onion puts everything it has into it. If it gets broken off, it rarely grows back.
The good news is that those green onions (for that is exactly what they are) are just as edible as the bulb. Sooooo….. if your onions sprout, Enjoy!
I like to chop the sprout right along with the rest. It adds some nice color to dishes.
Onions also freeze well after chopping.
Joseph likes to eat the greens on buttered bread, like a sandwich.
How do you like them? Shoot us an email or leave a comment and let us know!
Marion- for The Shepherd’s Market
In The Garden: March
Order your seeds and have your peas and potatoes ready to plant!
As soon as the ground is workable you can plant:
- Peas
- Potatoes
- Radishes
- Lettuce
- Mustards