Onions From Seed

[wfmdfm]

Well this spring we direct planted seed onions. We have always planted from sets and we may may never plant seeds again. Very slow and you can see from the pictures that they did not get to size. Where the rows were I needed to pull them otherwise I would have let them remain. Can these small plants be saved and replanted in the spring? If so just let them air dry and store?
Wally

[ScottyD'sdad]

Wally, onions from seed, need to be started indoors, and set out, like tomatoes. They get a signal to bulb, by day length, and bulb size i determined by the size of the plant, at the first day of summer. The small bulbs can be used as sets, for next year. Thats how onion sets are produced.
History lesson: In the 1800's onions were grown in southern New England, for export. Multiple tons were sent to the Indies, in trade for molasses, and rum. Ed

[bob in CT]

Plus there are long day onions and short day onions (we need long -day up North). There are a couple of areas in New York with muck soils that are famous for onions.

[dirtyred]

none as good as that old GA Vidalia onion up north

[ScottyD'sdad]

none as good as that old GA Vidalia onion up north

We "Yanks" need onions that store all winter, not your soft ones, that keep, til just after sundown! Ed

[v w]

I have used seed for years starting them indoors March 1st. They don't mind a bit of cool and once growing will take light frost. Our frost free date is may 10th. Seed gives a larger selection, low cost and it seems one year sets are small and a pound may be too many and the next year they are larger and a pound is not enough. Nope you can't grow Vidilia onions for two reasons. They are a short day onion, you don't live in Vidilia, Georgia and the name is patented. If you don't mind small onions, which is what you would get, plant Granex onions. That's all a Vidilia really is. Now that statement should cause some ruffles. There are also some day neutral onions but I've never tried them. Vern

[Buzzard Wing]

I do love Vidilia onions! Forget the grower's name, but years ago I got some excellent bare root plants from a place in that area of Georgia.....

[bob in CT]

none as good as that old GA Vidalia onion up north

Those wimpy GA onions have their place but for serious cooking, there is nothing better than black dirt onions:
http://www.pineislandny.com/history.htm

[bob in CT]

none as good as that old GA Vidalia onion up north

We "Yanks" need onions that store all winter, not your soft ones, that keep, til just after sundown! Ed

Now they store those sweet onions the same way they store apples: in nitrogen-filled rooms until they are ready to be shipped to market. That has extended the time they are available in the markets.

[dirtyred]

WOW! i believe that jealousy has reared it head they say that the soil is what makes a "vidalia" and they can and will get NASTY if it aint from that area! my cousin grew some that was just as swet and kept good in this old sand of south ga.


i read the link and by orange county do they mean orange county choppers area? we went through there last year and i didnt know bout the onions or i would have investigated. the dirt sure looks good to me!

[Peter Person]

WOW! i believe that jealousy has reared it head they say that the soil is what makes a "vidalia" and they can and will get NASTY if it aint from that area! my cousin grew some that was just as swet and kept good in this old sand of south ga.


i read the link and by orange county do they mean orange county choppers area? we went through there last year and i didnt know bout the onions or i would have investigated. the dirt sure looks good to me!

Yes, one in the same.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Dirt_Region


Peter

[bob in CT]

I was going to a birthday party in the area and, as usual I checked out a map and found a shortcut that ended up taking us straight through the middle of the valley. I had no idea what was there. We came over a rise and all that black dirt was a sight to behold and the very pungent aroma of onions enveloped us.

I understand driving a tractor over it is like riding on a bowl of jello. Quite a few Hi Crop Cubs came out of there too.