A pair years in the past, I attempted this seed sowing methodology for my onions and it labored very well, so I’m going to provide a fast tutorial. It’s very straightforward and low-maintenance, and I’m all about creating much less work for myself. So right here is my methodology for winter planting onion seed for harvesting subsequent summer time.
Why I Like to Develop Onions
Onions are a fantastic merchandise to develop as a result of they tolerate the chilly very well, which is an enormous plus right here in Northeast Ohio. It’s December as I write this and I nonetheless have some inexperienced onions rising out within the backyard that I might go pull at this time for dinner. And the bigger varieties like Walla Walla will hold in chilly storage for a fairly very long time. I can plant a bunch of onion seed for a couple of {dollars} and have onions for months and months. They’re virtually as straightforward and productive as garlic, which is my absolute favourite and best edible plant to develop.
I additionally desire to develop onions from seed as a result of planting from seed is extra economical than shopping for crops. Plus it creates much less waste (no backyard middle plastic cell packs), and you’ve got entry to a higher variety of plant varieties utilizing seed than you may often discover whenever you purchase crops at a backyard middle.
What You Want
You can simply sow your onion seed on the bottom in no matter spot you plan to develop your onions subsequent yr, however as any gardener is aware of, digging critters will wreck many backyard beds between now and spring and delicate seedlings like onions don’t survive. (Now we have an insane variety of squirrels in our neighborhood and so they wreck something I attempt to develop from seed if it’s uncovered.)
I discover the best factor to do is use a plant tray with a transparent cowl or a coated pot. Takeout containers work effectively too. I had a pair leftover takeout containers from rotisserie chickens, and thought they have been excellent for reusing as mini plant greenhouses. I’ve cleaned them completely.
I’ve used common takeout containers up to now, however these I’ve now are deeper to permit extra root area and can permit extra head room because the onions start to sprout, so they’re excellent. You need some kind of clear lid to permit the solar in, and if the lids aren’t vented, it’s best to poke a couple of holes in it to permit some air circulation. I wish to additionally poke a couple of holes within the backside tray as effectively, in order that it may possibly drain and doesn’t get too waterlogged after a rain.
Except for the containers, all you want is a few good potting soil and your seed. Want some onion seed? I like Park Seed, they’ve good high quality seed. (I don’t make any fee from this firm, I similar to their choice and high quality.)
Planting Onion Seed in Winter
The great thing about planting onion seed this manner is that it really works with pure cycles and permits the seed to sprout on the correct time and get used to out of doors circumstances proper from the start. So there’s no guesswork about when to plant and no difficult hardening off course of whenever you begin seedlings indoors and must step by step acclimate them to the outside.
It’s December right here in Ohio, so this can be a good time to get my seed planted. I’ve additionally achieved it later, in January and that works high-quality as effectively. I wouldn’t begin it too early, as a result of the seed would possibly begin sprouting instantly. The technique is to plant when it’s fairly chilly and the seed will naturally sprout when the time is correct.
I’m doing two various kinds of onions at this time, inexperienced onions and Walla Walla. I’ve labeled the trays with some masking tape and a everlasting marker. In earlier years I made the error of labelling the lids, after which an enormous storm or an animal knocked off the lids after which I didn’t know what was what. So this yr I’m labelling the trays.
I put some good potting soil in every tray after which comply with the depth directions on the seed packets (on this case, plant seed 1/4 inch deep). Onion seed is absolutely tiny, I simply sprinkle an honest quantity in there and canopy with a skinny layer of soil. Then I exploit the mist setting on my backyard hose to water the trays completely and put the covers on.
I wish to set them in an space the place they may get daylight however be sheltered from blowing round. We get fairly excessive winds within the winter right here, and they’re going to seemingly blow over if I simply go away them completely uncovered. So I snuggle them into my herb backyard:
The lids on these takeout trays are notably good as a result of they snap on good and tight, so I’m not too apprehensive about them blowing off, however I might put an enormous rubber band round them or stake them down in the event that they weren’t safe.
That’s it! You’re achieved till the climate warms up.
Caring for Your Onion Vegetation in Spring
Onions will begin sprouting fairly early. As soon as the climate begins to heat above 45-50 levels F, it’s best to examine in your onions and take away the lid on hotter days to permit the seedlings to get some air and never get too heat. If the soil is getting dry, remember to water it. For chilly evenings, put the lid again on. Onions are fairly hardy, so that you don’t must child them an excessive amount of however I like them to be coated anytime the temperatures get near or beneath freezing. Aside from that, simply hold them from getting too dry and also you’ll be good.
As soon as the temperatures are safely above freezing in your area and your onions are a couple of inches tall, you may transplant them to wherever you’ll be rising them for the summer time. Simply tear them aside in small clumps (it’s unattainable to separate every particular person plant, don’t strive), then plant and water.
That’s just about it. I develop a ton of onions this manner, and it’s tremendous straightforward. Give it a try to let me know the way it works for you!
