2019-2020 Onion Chronicles.

[Worth1]

10/19/2019

For some time now I have been pondering getting onion seeds for this year.
What to do where to get?????

Big box stores seed racks gone or wrong kind.
Grocery store seed racks gone.
Too lazy to order on line.
Stopped at Callahan's General Store on the way home yesterday.
They have field sized packs of seeds.
All they had for the 10-15-Y seeds were the 1/4 pound packages.
That's around 30,000 seeds.
I just wanted to get home but pulled over in Friday road construction traffic anyway and was glad I did.
It was like a sea of cars at this spot and was at the mercy of others to get back into line and on down the road.
Thankfully the folks are a lot nicer in this area and let me in line.
Mostly kind and goodly truckers coming back with a load from the pits by the river.

Now what to do with all these seeds.

[Worth1]

Onion hatchery started.
Mass planting in rows about three inches apart.
IMG_20191019_53406.jpg

[bower]

You're going to need a bigger tub. Worth, that is a lot of onions. I think you're going to have to increase your diet from the standard 5 per day!
I greatly wish I had a place to grow onions. Lots of onions! Allium crazy here.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by bower

You're going to need a bigger tub. Worth, that is a lot of onions. I think you're going to have to increase your diet from the standard 5 per day!
I greatly wish I had a place to grow onions. Lots of onions! Allium crazy here.

This is the hatchery, the other onion sites are on the way.
Plus re purposing some old aluminum glass tile frames to grow some in as an experiment.
I didn't knock a dent in the 1/4 pound of seeds.

I also just mass planted some cabbage seeds in another tub.
Early Jersey Wakefield.
This should be the last really hot weekend I hope.

[Nematode]

Farmer friend planted them like grass in his starter trays.
Cut them off with shears so they wouldn't fall and tangle before planting out.
That's up north here, don't know what makes sense in TX.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Nematode

Farmer friend planted them like grass in his starter trays.
Cut them off with shears so they wouldn't fall and tangle before planting out.
That's up north here, don't know what makes sense in TX.

In Texas my area it recommends planting now.
We all know it isn't the same from one year to the next.
Farther north in Texas it says no to planting seeds now.
I might start more seeds in about two weeks or less.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...V3pruopHeC6lk7

Chart

https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/w...s-in-texas.png

[Worth1]

want to add I am in the lower part of Zone III almost IV.

[GoDawgs]

I usually start onion seed two months from planting date. For me it takes that long to get a 1/8" wide seedling which is the smallest I want to handle for planting. Now, mine grow under lights with periodic haircuts and then get set out to harden. Started outside in a much deeper container, yours might just grow faster. It will be fun to watch.

[Worth1]

Wow these seeds sprouted seemingly over night.

No they are green onions from the store that will get even bigger.

IMG_20191020_21307.jpg

[Nan_PA_6b]

What to do with all those onions? Harvest, & dice them. Put huge bags of them in your freezer to be pulled out in handfuls at the slightest provocation.

[bower]

Originally Posted by Nan_PA_6b

What to do with all those onions? Harvest, & dice them. Put huge bags of them in your freezer to be pulled out in handfuls at the slightest provocation.

I think the bigger question is, how much land do you need to grow 30,000 onions. On account of onion seed being good only for a year or two.
Now here is another option, Worth: you can grow some sets for next season.

How to:
https://naldc.nal.usda.gov/download/ORC00000286/PDF
The Home Production of Onion Seed and Sets USDA Farmers Bulletin 434
Fantastic read there.
Basic plan for growing sets: keep the seeds really crowded, don't feed, hold back the water and let em dry down early.

[Worth1]

About 2 acres is my count as to how much land you need with spacing sets.


I have some 4 year old seeds I am going to plant and see what happens.
What have I got to lose.
Red Burgundy.
Sweet Yellow Spanish Uta jumbo long day
And Granex.

I read where tomato seeds are good for 4 years and we all know that is hog wash.
Gotten 99% germination from some really old seeds Carolyn sent me some years ago.
Like 12 to 15 years or close to it, not in her seed offer.

Also planted some elephant garlic and regular mystery garlic today I collected from this years wee crop.
I highly doubt the elephant will make it but we shall see.

[Rajun Gardener]

Onion seeds do have an expiration date unless frozen, my experience.

Sprinkle them along the tree/property line and let Mother Nature do her thing as an experiment.

[GoDawgs]

Originally Posted by Rajun Gardener

Onion seeds do have an expiration date unless frozen, my experience.

Sprinkle them along the tree/property line and let Mother Nature do her thing as an experiment.

They do freeze well. The Red Creole seed I started this fall was 2016 seed that had been stashed in the freezer as soon as I had finished sowing them that year.

[Worth1]

Well these were in a drawer where I keep my kitchen pistol.