I have seen onion seed in packets for sale but have never planted onion by seed. I have always planted the small plant. Have any of you planted the seed and how does it do compared to the small plant? I am trying it just for fun.
planting onion seed
I am planting onions from seed first time this year also, got some Walla Walla that I winter sowed, just barely beginning to sprout! I'll watch this thread to see what kind of advice and experienced tips we get, Whitewidower!
I haven't had much luck, but I'm in the northeast. I always just get onion sets (small plants). I do leeks from seed and even those seems to take forever. Shallots and garlic I do from clove or bulbs.
I'm curious to see how it turns out for both of you.
The biggest problem I see with onion seed is how long it takes to harvest. Most take up to 120 days. That's a REAL long growing season, but of course can be done. I buy plants, they are quite inexpensive, and harvest onions in a more reasonable time period. Just my 2 cents
BocaBob
Thanks! That is one reason I wintersowed my onion seed. I have high hopes -- seed is germinated so, fingers crossed.
I did not have access to anything but seed, so...... my choice kinda got made for me.
Kyla
Make sure when you purchase onion seed that you obtain the correct type for your geographical area. That means either short-day or long-day onions. Here in the lower South (Texas Gulf Coast) only Short-day onions will finish out with a decent size onion. Further North Long-day onions need to be planted. So, first determine the proper type for your locality, then select the seed variety suitable. Your County agricultural agent can provide the information you need.
Les
Onion seeds are best started indoors: start seeds 4 to 6 weeks before the average last frost date in spring, and transplant them into the garden as soon as the soil can be worked.
Here's a growing link:
http://www.harvestwizard.com/2009/01/how_to_grow_onion.html
well believe it or not my onions are starting to sprout. I really can't remember the date I planted but it could not be more ten or twelve days. It gives one so much pleasure to see a seed sprout. Now a one dollar pack of seed will be a gracious plenty. Thank the Lord.
I cut my onions back to 4 inches when they get 6 to 8 inches tall and are wimpy. I do this about three times before planting them out. This makes for stocky plants and makes them easy to transplant.
I am considering onions, but how do you know when they are ready since they underground. Probably a really goofy question, but just curious.
Not a goofy question at all!!!!! When the tops start to die, the onion is ready. They can be left in ground for a while, too, as long as it is not too wet. I believe if about a third of the leaves up top are yellow and brown, the onion is about finished growing. There are I imagine fine points to this, though, and I hope someone more experienced than I will waft by here and point them out. ;-)
Kyla
"but how do you know when they are ready"...
They are ready as soon as you see something edible. I love "green onions" and start picking as soon as the tops are off decent size (like you might see in the grocery stores bundled up).
As for the bulb stage, shuggins, they will be showing at ground level and you can easily judge the size.
I tend to be one of those that demands double-duty from my onion patch. Instead of the usual spacing of 4" apart I prefer to plant them 2" apart and as the plants get of a harvestable size pull every other one for green onion use. (I love those greens cooked up in a bit of oil then simmered in a broth with a dash of sesame oil at the last minute!) By pulling every other onion that allows plenty of spacing for the rest of the onions in the rows to bulb up nicely. Those are your main crop onions.
Enjoy those onions!
Shoe
Thanks so much for the information.
Yes, thanks! I must have been thinking about garlic ~*blush*~ and admittedly I have grown lots more garlic than onions..... Thanks, Shoe, for stepping in on that one. ;-)
Hmm. I was just checking on t he website of the seed supplier I bought my onion seeds from, for some other info and happened across this in the entry of "more info" about Walla Walla onions (the variety I sowed):
"HARVEST: When the tops begin to dry out and are falling over, withhold watering if possible, so the bulbs mature in dry soil. After about half the tops have fallen, push over the remainder, wait about 1 week and harvest the bulbs. Spread the bulbs out in the sun and cover with a sheet or tarp at night to prevent dew from remoistening them. Cure them for a week or so to toughen the skins. Proper curing is essential to promote long storage. If weather is poor at this time, cure on the floor of the garage, barn, or house."
So I guess, when you harvest depends on what you want! And Shoe and I are both right. ;-)
Kylaluaz Don't bother curing Walla Walla's they don't store well their necks are to thick. I pull and freeze or dehydrate the majority of my WWs I do prolong some fresh to eat by putting in an almost freezing frig. Copra is a great keeper and Redwing is almost as good if you like Red ones.Thats my story and I am sticking to it.
Thanks for that, eweed --- I'll sure keep it in mind if I get that far, LOL! I'm only growing a few for personal use anyways, and chose that variety mainly for sentimental reasons. As I proceed to learn this environment I have moved to I am sure I will make more specific choices as to cultivar. But I figured, Walla Walla is in Washington so onions named for there ought to be more or less okay in my day-length zone, plus they are so good. ;-)
Kyla
I have a crazy onion question and here is an onion thread right at the top - what luck!
So - I left a bag of onions (labeled Mayan Sweets - 6" wide) on the counter too long, and low and behold, two of them have leaves!
I'm wondering if they'd do anything if I went out and stuck them in the garden? I hate to waste something that seems so eager to grow, but I also hate to waste space in my little 4x4 veggie bed if they aren't going to do anything.
What do you all think? Thanks for your advice!
GreenerBeaner
One of the reasons I love composting is I never or rarely feel like I am wasting anything, LOL!
Since you have so little garden space, why not stick just one in there as an experiment!
it will grow but it will go to seed so harvest it whiile the leaves are still flatish rather than letting round spike type leaves form in the center
Or.... harvest the seed? eweed, isn't this the stage for seed production anyway? Growing from a mature onion bulb like that.....???
it will rot from the center
I planted sprouted onions before. All the results I got were some topgrowth and soft, rotted bulbs. Nowadays if a bulb onion sprouts I "harvest" the greens and use them in cooking or salads then end up tossing the bulb away (compost).
And yep, if left to continue growing you might get a flower stalk and maybe some seeds but you might want to find out more about the variety of onion and see if it is a hybrid, if so no need to save the seeds. Mayan Sweets hale from South America and I haven't seen any source of seed stock here in the US so don't know what it is, hybrid or OP.
Kyla, I'm so jealous! Those Walla Walla's are supposed to be fantastic but I can't grow them here. No fair!! :>(
Shoe
Shoe
But Shoe, you can grow Vidalias, can't you? To me they are the Southeast's answer to Walla Wallas..... or is it vice versa?
And I know what you mean, they are about the first seed I ordered when I transplanted myself out this way....... hee hee.
Kyla
Shoe I know a guy who claims he shucks all the soft outside part of the onion off and replants and gets big good onions. Naturaly he is the same guy who tells me he cuts off his potatoes as they finish flowering so the energy will go into the spud not the vine. My eyes roll here. Do you still want the Galienas and Black Cherry seed?
Kyla, yep, I can grow "Vidalia" onions, and usually do grow several Granex types each year. Plus I can grow Candy onions, another super duper onion to grow, one I'll grow every year as long as I have ground to grow in. I believer you could grow it as well as it is an Intermediate Day onion.
Ernie, with all the onions I grow each year I think I'd rather start with seeds, sets, and plants rather than peel off the outer layers of an old onion. But I reckon it can be done. I think I'd be more concerned with those onions attracting onion fly though; once those larvae get in the ground it is hard to get rid of them.
(By the way, I have some Gallina seeds but didn't save any Black Cherry. I-M me and we'll barter some trades!)
Shoe
Thanks for the tip, Shoe, I will keep Candy in mind....
Y'all more experienced growers just feel free to keep talking in here so we newer ones can lurk and listen in. ;-) ~~ Kyla
Ernie, I think Kyla just called us "old". *grin
(Now who was it I was supposed to send this kudzu seed to...?) :>)
Shoe
ARGH!!!!!!!Anything but that, Im sorry Im sorry, donnnnnnnt send it, no, LOL!
Me, I enjoy being old, so didn't think anything of it. ;-)
Heheh, Okay, I'll have pity on you and just continue to let kudzu grow where it will. You're safe!
Onions, yikes. I have nearly 1000 plants to set out later this week, weather permitting. And 300 or so leeks. Sure could use some help (hint hint)
Shoe (who smells the crock pot full of supper calling my name)
I will send helpful thoughts your way. LOL!
Ha! Not only did I get an answer to my question, but some laughs to boot. Thanks for the help and happy Fat Tuesday to you all!
GreenerBeaner
Old sheesh I am older than most of my teeth I only have 11 left and so it goes.
I am doing only about 600 this year maybe more I bought 10 bundles and most of the time they are a generous count so who knows.
WW sweets Big Daddy Alise Craig and Mars will do it for me. I will get a few leeks localy maybe a hundred.
Shoe the shallot seed you sent me did well I am planting four flats of 4 inch boxes now and I have some other type from the supermarket we will see how they do.
I have Linda cooking at the drive in tonight and I hear the garage door see ya.
And a Fat Happy Tuesday to you too, GB, and to all..... E Weed, you are older than twelve!?!?, gosh, whoda thunk it???? LOL
That's right, Greenerbeaner, I forgot all about Fat Tuesday. I guess we've been partying here these past few posts though, so that counts as celebrating, right?
Ernie, good luck this year w/ the shallots. Those are more fun to grow than the onions, eh? All the rest of you should try them sometime, you'll definitely enjoy them.
Everyone have a great mid-week! Getting close to the midnight hour here; ya'll Western Folks still have plenty of day left! No fair!
Shoe
Shoe the seed I saved from that I got from you last year is growing well. The shallots I just bought in the store I think will rot . No sign of life yet I will give them another week and replace them with more garlic.
I guess it matters which shallots you get from the grocery store as to if they will grow.
Good going, Ernie. At least on the saved shallots. I hope the grocery store ones pull thru for ya.
I have a box of shallots to go in the ground; spent the day setting out onion plants though, and leeks, and lettuces. Sore back, tired muscles but can now brag that they are all in the ground finally.
Shoe
Okay, y 'all, my Walla Walla's are just sitting there, do not seem to be growing or dying either one. Still in the jug they got wintersowed in, as I understood they need to be about big round as a pencil before transplanting. Well, if these get that big I will celebrate!
They are up, green, bout big around as a toothpick maybe. If that. Been that way for longer than seems right.
Am I just being impatient? (Say yes. lol!)
Kyla
I bought some Onion bulbs from Lowes. Should I plant them soon? or with everything else in may
Started 2 kinds by seed, ringmaster @flat of Italy.. March 5. Hopefully the weather will warm up because they are already 4-5 inches tall and growing like weeds, So far so good. I read they will bolt in cold weather, is that true?
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