ONION SEEDLINGS FREE

We generally like to plant as soon as our soil is workable. You don’t have to wait until your last frost date to transplant them into the garden, however, there are some simple steps you’ll want to take to protect those new sprouts. Onions are a very hardy crop and can withstand cold temperatures, light freezes, and even some snow.

As they continue to grow, keep trimming them so the energy can go into the bulb formation. When the green shoots of the onions reach about 6 inches, take a pair of scissors and cut the greens down to about 4 inches.Once they begin to sprout, set them under your grow lights, just as you would when starting other seeds indoors.

Seeds do not need sunlight until after they’ve sprouted, so keep the container in a semi-warm location (the top of the refrigerator or near a wood stove, etc.).(We like to use a spray bottle to keep the seeds from moving around.) If the soil is dry to the touch, it’s time to water again. Think “Goldilocks” here, not too moist, but not too dry. Sprinkle seeds generously all over the surface of the soil, then gently sprinkle a bit more potting mix over the seeds to just barely cover them.

ONION SEEDLINGS FREE

Fill your container with good quality potting soil (or soil from your garden if you’re sure it’s free from harmful bacteria or fungi).Melissa uses the large clamshell containers you buy lettuce in from the grocery store (pictured above) because they make a great greenhouse effect during germination when you close the lid. Since they’re going to be growing for 16 weeks, it’s important they have enough space to develop the bulb size you’re looking for, so try not to plant too densely with the seeds.Īvoid starting them in shallow egg cartons or individual seed starting cells because potting up onion starts is not ideal or easy. Once you’ve chosen your onion variety and done the math to know when to start your seeds indoors, you’re ready to go!īe sure to choose the right container to start your seeds. TIP: If you happen to have a freeze dryer, we’ve found freeze-dried onions are one of the best time-savers in the kitchen! They’re easy to preserve and can be used in so many dishes. We like to grow multiple varieties, some for fresh eating, some for short-term storage, and some to get us all the way through the spring until next year’s harvest. If a long-term storage onion is what you’re after, be sure you’re choosing a variety that’s known for being a good storage onion. It’s my recommendation to do a quick online search for your area to know which onion type is best for you to grow. Best planted in late fall/early winter for mild climates, or early spring for colder climates.Bulbs form with 12-14 hours of daylight.On average take 110 days to maturity in warmer zones planted in fall, or 75 days in colder zones planted in early spring.Best planted in the fall and will be ready late spring.Best for gardening zones 7 or warmer (if grown in colder climates, bulbs won’t get as large).Bulbs form with 10-12 hours of daylight.

On average take 90-110 days to maturity.

Best planted in late winter to early spring.

Best for northern regions (for those in the U.S., this is the top half of the country if you drew a line from about San Francisco, CA to Washington D.C.).

And although these are types of onions, what we mean when growing onion varieties is whether they’re “long-day”, “short-day”, or “day-neutral” varieties. When it comes to growing onions, many people just think of yellow, purple, or sweet onions.

Onion seedlings