Onions from seeds

[ErieDeare]

I would like to know which is the best Onion to start from seed to keep for a long period of time?

I would need a long day onion since I live in Ohio.

They tell me that a onion start from seed will be bigger than one from a bulb.

[greenthumbomaha]

I've never grown onions from seed, but Candy is a good choice for flavor and storage.
- Lisa

Bonnie Plants usually offers this in plants.

[joseph]

In my experience... Smaller onions store better, so for me planting from seed leads to longer storage life than starting from small bulbs or plants, because the onions don't grow as big.

The genetics of the onion makes even more difference than the size of the bulb. Some of my strains of onions keep perfectly well for 16 months. Others are rotting away in less than a month. I like Utah Yellow Spanish for long-term storage.

[Father'sDaughter]

I grew a small number of Copra and Red Wing (both hybrids) last year and still have a bunch of each that are holding out quite well. I'm growing more if both this year.

[greenthumbomaha]

Is there time for Erie to start onion seeds ? Our "plant out" date in Nebraska is March 15.

- Lisa

[Father'sDaughter]

I've read that they can be direct sown in late April/early May here in Massachusetts. So I think Erie might still have time.

Personally, I start them indoors in early February, plant out in mid April, and I harvest in mid-July.

[beeman]

Originally Posted by Father'sDaughter

Personally, I start them indoors in early February, plant out in mid April, and I harvest in mid-July.

It's quite amazing the difference that zones make. I started seeds Jan 19th, plant out date May 24th, harvest late Sept.
At the moment they're growing well in front of my French doors, will be greenhoused in late March.

[ErieDeare]

What you all told me is that I am to late to start onions from seed.

[Doug9345]

I think you'll just end up with smaller bulbs than you might have. The deal with onions is that once the day gets long enough they will set bulbs. The bigger the plant is when they start to bulb, the bigger the bulb.

[tjg911]

Originally Posted by Father'sDaughter

I grew a small number of Copra and Red Wing (both hybrids) last year and still have a bunch of each that are holding out quite well. I'm growing more if both this year.

and there's your answer. you will not find any onion that stores longer than copra period.

for a red i'm not aware of any that store longer than red wing.

it is late to start seeds. i start in early february and plant out 4/7 to 4/15 but this year it may be 5/15!

tom

[Worth1]

I think my onions are starting to bulb.
Worth