time to plant onions.

Planting onion seeds has become a new year's tradition for us. By following a few simple rules, they have treated us well.

Under lights on a 12/12 timer. Transplant out at the spring equinox.

What types of onions do you recommend?

Definately stick with long day types.

I've had success with Riverside sweet spanish, Walla walla, Milan Rose (Rossa Di Milano), a dutch Red (forget proper dutch name) and of course, my own creation, the OBF Red Globe.

I found the Riverside tended towards 10-20% bolting, with the bolted ones only being good for fresh eating.

The Dutch reds and OBF's have the best storage capability, many last till april/may.

would by be willing to be more specific on how you raise your seedlings? this is something I have always wanted to do but I have up till now just bought the seedlings and planted out. Would really like to start from seed myself this time. We can't plant until late May up where we are but this winter is so different from last winter, might be different. Won't know till later though.

Hard to imagine that yes, it is time for many of those things to start. I am starting leeks today. I haven't grown onions in probably 15 years, maybe time to get a few of those started. Not really interested in the red, but we sure do use a lot of yellow. A red onion lasts a long time here. I wonder....when I buy the red or guess they are purple onions in the store, I can't stand how they bleed, gordon help me if I ever put them into something that should absolutely not be pink when cooked or when I put them in my potato salad, it looked HORRIBLE, that's all I remember about red in potato salad one time, and only one time. Are all the red onions like that? Have a wonderful day, CynthiaM.

Magdelan wrote:would by be willing to be more specific on how you raise your seedlings?  this is something I have always wanted to do but I have up till now just bought the seedlings and planted out.  Would really like to start from seed myself this time.  We can't plant until late May up where we are but this winter is so different from last winter, might be different.  Won't know till later though.  

Onions are easy to start. I usually germinate them on the floor in my kitchen as it is warm in a south facing window. When they germinate I move to lights in my basement. They will grow long and leggy so every few days I clip them back to about 3 inches. I use the clippings like chives. I like the sweet onions like "candy" and "Walla Walla". Hope that helps.

Bowker Acres wrote:

Magdelan wrote:would by be willing to be more specific on how you raise your seedlings?  this is something I have always wanted to do but I have up till now just bought the seedlings and planted out.  Would really like to start from seed myself this time.  We can't plant until late May up where we are but this winter is so different from last winter, might be different.  Won't know till later though.  

Onions are easy to start.  I usually germinate them on the floor in my kitchen as it is warm in a south facing window.  When they germinate I move to lights in my basement.  They will grow long and leggy so every few days I clip them back to about 3 inches.  I use the clippings like chives.  I like the sweet onions like "candy" and "Walla Walla". Hope that helps.

thanks Bowker Acres. do you just use seed raising mix or do you have another medium? I have heard about using perlite and planting sprouts on after that. I want to grow enough to last us through the winter and some if possible. Have found the red onions keep better than the white ones. I like red but also the white.

I'm not the best person to give gardening advice ... I'm a farmer and farmers don't work in the perfect garden, we just learn what works in our imperfect fields. I shared the key details of when to plant and photoperiods required for a successful season. Beyond that, I recommend doing what I did, a google search. The information available (from university sites and archived historical books) is far more complete than anything we as a group will be providing on this forum. I will say this though, onions like chicken manure

no sweat Omegablufarms. I bet you are better than you like to admit   .