Great info. I have tried from seed in pots in the past with poor results. This year I tried again directly in the ground and ended up with a row of medium sized onions. I call that a victory 😀
I too have had your "success " with bulb onions. Though a couple of years ago, a fellow beekeeper gave me 6 starts. I transplanted them into 1 gallon pots with a combo of compost and potting soil...put a 6 containers into a dark grey tub. I watered them by putting water into the tub. I was dumbfounded in mid summer and had 4 out 6 beautiful bulbs of Walla Walla Sweet onions...they weren't huge...size of a baseball (around here, Washington, they average a softball). But it was my successful harvest. But Now..thanks to you..I WILL be growing them again. Can't Wait
My first two years of growing onions I would get them at the local farm and ranch supply store, Texas sweet 1015’s and they grew huge, I move them around the garden but never like the first time. And I do get the bag of bulbs that are mixed red, white& yellow and have fair results. Last year I had none we had a week of cold weather in late May and my onions and garlic bolted. This year I never had scapes in them
15 years ago I worked on a farm in north Florida. The grower put me in charge of the onions. We grew what they called St. Augustine Sweets (Vidalia style onion). He ran the planter the first of September. When they got to the size of a small green onion a crew pulled them to plant in a larger field(10 acres). I did the fertilizing, cultivating and spraying. A large crew hand pulled them in mid April. I tried some sets in my garden last year but let the grass and weeds get ahead of me. This year I planted some sets and have seedlings just about ready to transplant. I made sure I got short day seed. I am going to wait until after this latest storm to do that.
You're a great teacher, Brian! I'm not even interested in growing onions (we don't eat enough of them to warrant the space, and our container garden is small), but I always learn something, and the way you present the material is clear and useful. I also appreciate that you use your mistakes as a teaching tool! After all, failure is simply an opportunity to grow and learn. 🙂
I have been waiting for years to acquire this information about onions. I live in Los Angeles county and have only been able to grow green onions. I can't thank you enough for this incredible information about onions and daylight length. This is Next Level information! I've hit that subscribe button.
Lucky for me in Australia, there really is only short or intermediate onions and both grow in Melbourne extremely well. Ours are bulbing now. Cant wait to start to eat fresh onions again.
So informative, thank you! I’m hitting my 1 year anniversary of planting my own veggies and last year I failed miserably on the onions. Hoping for better this year but no matter the outcome it’s a lot of fun and I’m always learning something new.
The most success I had in my raised beds this year was with onions (I'm in New England so I grow Long Day onions). I struggled with soil conditions with everything else I planted, but the onions did great. I recently collected soil samples and sent them off to be analyzed and I'm awaiting results. I still have quite a few red onions left (Red Candy Apple variety). I use the white Walla Wallas first as they do not keep as long. (got my starts from Dixondale Farms online)
I just put my order in to Dixondale. I'm in S. Calif. We can transplant Nov 15 the to Jan 15th. The sooner they're in, typically, the bigger the onions get. About Easter, I pull out any small ones for green onions. That let's the best ones get bigger. Curious about the results from your soul test. I think of East Coast as acidic soil... but onions favor soil a bit alkaline. Brocolli also likes alkaline.
Thank you thank you!! I just ordered short day onion seeds this morning and was worried I might be too late! I’m in Southern California too so it looks like I’m right on time!
A big thank you and another usage for your onion method. When I planted onion seeds in my transplant containers (toilet rolls!), I also did carrots. I have always had issues with carrots in washing away the seed before they root, getting them to root, etc. After three weeks, both containers were full of sprouted seedlings and I followed your directions of soaking in water to separate the seedlings and planting immediately. It has been 4 days and all life forms are going strong! Thanks so much!
Oh wow❣️ That’s why I only ever got the little thin bulbs, as you pictured. 🙁 I used sets too. I haven’t found anything to show me long day, which is what I need. Thanks a million for sharing this important detail Brian. 🥰
Don’t know what was my dads reason for this but he always used sets to grow green onions and the bundles of what looks like green onions (transplants?) to grow bulbs. He lived in Nebraska and always had great gardens every year. I live in north Texas and have terrible luck gardening. I try to remember what I can from what he did but I wish he was still here to help me. Thanks for all you do. I didn’t know to watch for short day onions. Will definitely be on my radar now.
I'm a newer Gardner in zone 10b. I don't have many years of experience--just a few--so take this for what it's worth. I used onion sets two years ago and used seed last year. I had larger onions when I used sets. I'm trying sets again this year to see if I once again have better results from sets. I think there were a couple of other variables in there that might have affected my results, so we'll see. I've grown my onions in a thin property side-strip where I also grow ornamental sweet peas. It seems like they are pretty good companions.
I recommend buying plants from Dixondale Farms in Texas. My family has used them for several decades. If you can find other nearby gardeners to join you in an order, it makes them reasonably priced.
Hi Brian, I buy my starts from Dixondale Farms in Texas. The onions are usually about 5-6 inches long, very skinny and it is in a bunch of about 50. I love their starts, and it is such a great way to do onions, I get great crops. It is a family owned farm and they have been doing this for years and years. I always get great onton growth and the price is fantastic for what you get. They guide you through which type you need (short, intermediate and long) and are very helpful and friendly if you call them with questions. I had some that went to seed and saved them, so I planted those already to see if I will get onions from them that I like too.
Love your show Brian. I've learnt so much. Re onion growing...you asked for comments. I live in the south west of England so we have a mild temperature..very rarely get snow. I plant sets each spring,red and golden and I always get a great crop. I strung them.uo in sept/October time and I'm just using the last ones now in May. I found your tips on fertilisers extremely helpful. Keep your presentations going. They are great especially your tomato ones..Thank you. ps. I was so very sorry to hear about your medical issues and I do hope you continue to improve...that's amazing..
I’m in zone 6b and will have freezing temperatures at night soon. I’m planning on harvesting the green onion and garlic tops that have come up, because the frost will take them anyway, might as well enjoy them right!
I planted two onions that sprouted in my fridge raider and from those two I got 12 nice pretty good size onions since I didn’t even know what I was doing!
Another great show. I do pretty well with onions but as always, I’ve learned new information today that I plan to incorporate next year. Thank you. You are the best.
Thank you very much for sharing, my first was a flop, not even green toppings came up, I’ve planted now in the ground, it’s mid Spring in South Africa now, I’ll post pics when I have success from this harvest, 🤞🏼
I have had a hard time growing onions 😢 i watched your video last year and tried, but didn’t prep the soil properly, gardener error. This year I am already seeing sprouts so I will be separating them instead of cutting them. Thanks for the videos and for keeping it real. 🧅
I learned a lot from this video. I companion planted so I did get some good use out of my onions but my bulbs were really skinning and small. Going to order seeds to get the proper plants now. Thank you!!!!
grew onions from sets last year and had no problem except, as you mentioned about drainage, some of them rotted due to the extreme rain we had at one point. I live in a warm climate with mild winters. Thanks again for all of your work. I love your channel.
Saw a video. The lady topped the onions when the bulbs started to make bulbs. To 6 inch tall. She said it puts the onion's growing energy into making bulbs not making the leaves bigger. She also pull the dirt from around the bulbs. She said that makes the bulbs get larger.
This video has ALL the pertinent info I need! Thank You Brian! I'm in zone 8b in Texas, and the one and only time I tried to grow onions was the Fall/Winter/Spring of 2019-20. This time frame just happens to include that infamous Polar Vortex which paralyzed Texas for 6 days straight. Timing is everything, right? Yes, I'm still holding a grudge with that storm, even though all the humans in my household made it through the storm without any big problems. My grudge came from what that storm did to my gardens, and all the flora near me. I'm not normally a "grudge" type of person. And, I never thought I would hold a grudge against something like a storm! But here I am. Anyway, my onion and garlic story from that year is a long one. I won't bore anyone with the sad, weird, details. The bottom line is that I haven't tried growing onions since then. And I'm still not growing them this time around either. However, with the extra info such as when to stop feeding them, and what to look for when they've stopped bulbing, I now feel a lot more confident whenever I do start growing them, again! As for right now... I still don't trust Father Winter. He's been pretty squirrely ever since that Vortex came for an extended visit... We'll see how I feel next year.
Haha, I had to laugh at ur grudge bc I’m from Texas too, zone 8a. That polar vortex was CRAZY! I wasn’t gardening then as far as edibles, had just started trying to see if I could keep roses alive when that storm hit. By a small miracle, I did, but it was def a storm to remember! This year was the first time I tried growing food, and I tried onions, but also didn’t grow the right kind for our area. Going to try again tho in 2023. Good luck with ur future gardening! 💐
@@loricawley54 My roses came thru the storm too, but they took nearly the rest of the year to recover. Our Live Oaks who I've never seen them drop all their leaves at once, did exactly that right as the storm thawed. Naked Oaks all around!! It was freaky! What was worse, those trees, some more than 200 years old, STAYED NAKED for MONTHS afterward!! MONTHS!!! NAKED TREES!!! I've never seen anything like it. I thought for sure they were dying, or already dead. It wasn't until May, I think, when the weather finally got above 90° and much to my great relief THAT'S when the Oaks started growing their leaves again. I've never been so happy to see 90° or trees leaf out before! That storm left an indelible mark on my gardening soul. Truly, a weather scar. If there is such a thing... And now, in just a couple of nights, the temps will be dropping to estimated 34°F. I'm a die hard warm weather girl. A frost tender flower, that's me. Needless to say - I'm not ready for freezing weather again.
@@gardengatesopen I, too, am a frost tender flower and enjoy the heat far more than the cold! Texas girl thru and thru! Completely agree that snowmaggedon was a freak of weird nature, and I hope not to see another storm like it in the future!! My hubby and I just took down a 60 yr old diseased fruitless mulberry by ourselves (nearly killed us both haha). We planted two Shumard Red Oaks in our front yard to replace that mulberry we took down. They’ve been in the ground for about 8 weeks, and they’re turning such a beautiful red color. Since we don’t get to see much of the leaves changing colors in west Texas, I’ve loved the show they’re putting on. I will confess that I’m nervous with this frost we have coming, and probably will be a mother hen with those trees lol. Since I’ve gotten into gardening, it’s become such a passion, and I love it! This summer we had such a drought here, and ofc I decided to try growing food for the first time lol. Drought has some lessons that it used to spank me a few times, but I did learn a lot. I truly hope all ur plants and trees continue to recover bc I know what it’s like to lose a plant u’ve invested money, sweat, time, and tears into! ❤️🙏🏻🥰
We don't have enough leaf changing color over here in Central Tx either, hardly any. That alone has pushed me into any tree with fall color, but Japanese Maples seem to feed my addiction for the "changing of the leaves" ! I cannot get enough of them! Luckily they make good understory trees. Here's hoping Texas makes it to at thru least November without this storm wreaking any major gardening havoc! I still have seeds to sprout! We too have been suffering from the Summer drought. I waited for this Fall to grow seeds bcuz the Summer was just too hot & dry. You're already in West Tx, I can't imagine how bad it has to get to make y'all feel a drought! Ugh!! This past year I felt like West Tx has moved into my neighborhood! So, howdy neighbor! 😉 (We're all closer than we think.) Yep, the weather is definitely weirder than usual...
I am trying to grow white onions. I live in zone 6. I added mycchorizea to the soil. I used good quality seed starting soil. I am starting them in pots. The onion seeds are intermediate. We get long cold winters here. I am all set for spring. I can't wait. !!! I never had a good time growing from sets either. ;)
Just bought 4 pounds of little bulbs ...mixed variety. Popped them into a planter in the greenhouse way too close to each other and they are 4 inches high now. I'm in Tennessee 7A .... need to see if they survive outside!
Awesome! I didn't know about the different onions either and so true the garden centers especially the big ones the bring in the wrong type last year it was pitiful. Very good video Brian! Always! 🤗❤🤗
I have grown them from sets and have been successful in getting a fair amount of bulbs. This year I have started them from seeds, bur direct sowed. Next year I will do them from seeds in containers since I saw how you rinsed and separated. I didn't realize you can separate them like that!!
I live in Philadelphia PA. A northern city. I always bought long day onions. I never got good bulbs. I learned that my zone is 7. 7 and above requires intermediate or short day. I started buying those and got good results from spring growing. I think i could've gotten great results if i transplanted them earlier. My opinion is no matter whether north or south, if u r in zone 7 or above, gow intermediate or short. Grow them from seed early. U can easily find them online by long, intermediate or short day.
I've grown sets, plants and seeds. As I have found with everything I grow seeds are the best and the most economical. Like you it took figuring out the day length thing to finally have success. Try different varieties and things like bunching onions and walking onions.
How do you plant sets? This is my first time growing onions. I’m in 8A, and some say just set them on top of the soil, but it looks like you put yours in the soil. Which is it? Thank you!
You don't want to. On ions are bi-annual. Most sets will think it is the second season and give you seeds instead of bulbs. -- Do a search. --Ray Delbury Sussex County NJ USA
Highly recommend Dixondale farms in Texas for onion plants. They always do well for me - I get all big onions. They have a catalog that explains everything. But I'm also planning to try onion seeds myself this year.
Thank you. I saved seed from a few onions that flowered last year. Do they need to get cold before they germinate? Enjoyed this video.Great info I will be using this year!
I started from seed last year and it really needed a couple of months of growth to have been big enough to do well when I transplanted them. I planted my seedlings about the size in your video and nothing really matured to something that would be an edible bulb. On the other hand I bought some seedlings at my local Agway which were 8 to 10 inches tall (and had been trimmed so probably taller), and those grew just fine. We have a pretty short growing season here in 6B outside Boston so although the seedlings will handle the cold pretty well there's not a lot of growing time so seedlings need to be bigger than those in your video. This year I'm going to start my seeds in late December or early January instead of February. I'm looking for them to be so tall I need to give them a haircut. I'd like them 8 or 10 inches tall when I put them in the ground. By the way it's also worth mentioning that you can put seedlings in the ground sooner than you can sets because they can handle the cold better than sets will.
Thank you for helpful info! I’m in zone 5, and had success with planting semi-dormant sweet white onion plants from nursery, not bulbs. My question is…. Some produced seed last year, do I need to cold stratify those before planting? I stored them inside at room temp. Thanks
Thank you so much for this video! I always learn so much! One thing though I didn’t hear you mention how often do you water these. You went into all of the growing and fertilizing but not watering
I grew onions in Del Mar from sets. They did really well in container and got really nice big onions. I did not know about pruning so they did not get as big as I would have liked. I used Gurneys short day white and red (Candy) variety. They sent so many small onion plants I was giving them away.
Yes! Thats my onion fail… annually. I got a handful of Egyptian Walking onions and they make great green onions. But what are their potential for growing bulbs? Am I doomed to only green walking onion? I planted the walking onions in a bag of garden soil, some red some white, both were walking onion? I dunno. Do I transplant the seedling onions I have growing now? If so in what kind of soil? Thanks.
I have had good luck with sets and then other times they didn't do good at all. I tried seedlings last year and they were a waste of time, money and space. I got baseball sized onions one year from sets. I'm guessing I got the wrong type for my area last year, because they didn't do good at all! Thanks for the info. Definitely need to look and find the right ones!
I got some of that Neptune’s crab n lobster you recommend. The cat tore through the bag, then the gallon sized ziploc I put it in. Is now digging where I’ve placed it. Must be good stuff. It’s now on a very high shelf he cant get to until I can find a better solid receptacle for it, and is being kept inside for awhile.
Question. Looking at the map of our state Arkansas we look like intermediate onions. Then I put my zip code in and I get a different answer. Appears I’m between intermediate to short onion growth. What should I do? Frustrating
I struggle with onions from seed. I do ok with leeks and green onions. Hoped to succeed with onion seeds this year and failed when again when I sowed them in pony packs in our warm weather. So, I got my order in to Dixondale Farms in Texas. I'm just north of you in southern Riverside County. I'm transplanting a few hundred onion babies after Thanksgiving. I've used the company for 25 years, and my dad used them before that. I feel I'm saving water too by using their seedlings. I use blood and bone meal. It helps keep gophers away as they don't like the smell. We still have to trap gophers; but if a few get past us, they prefer things like... grumble grumble... full grown brocolli, potatoes that are ready to harvest, OH and young bean plants. Been here 25 years, and if we stop trapping, the cute little guys WILL destroy the garden. We dug a new leach field, and the gopher tunnels were interesting. They ran parallel and about a foot out from the irrigation drip lines. The holes you see pop up in the garden, are sideways from the main tunnel. Then, a few feet under main tunnel, was a second tunnel running exactly the same, and periodic connectors to the upper tunnel. There can be miles of tunnels within a neighborhood, all connected. Hope it helps you understand your nemesis, the gopher. I get it. But, we still garden ... There's enough for us both when the population is moderated. Also, I try to hope there is some purpose. Perhaps they're aerating our hard soil?
So I ordered short day onion sets from a reputable site. They will be arriving Nov. 14. I was told to plant right away, but here in zone 10A I find out that planting of these onions should be early January. Sigh. How will this affect my production? Anything I can do to change this outcome?
I noticed the same thing with the big box stores. I just grow onions from seed for this reason because I have never seen intermediate or short day onion sets. So I just grow them from seed.
I'm in 9b CA. So frustrating, when you go to a garden center and the packet does not indicate, if the seeds are short day onion. So true about the seed packets not having the information on them. Thank you.
I've always grown sets, but don't think they were made for Western Washington. I got a few descent onions over the years, but most of them bolted and started flowering. I guess they thought they were in their second year. Last year, I got some pretty good sized onions and only two bolted. I saved the seeds. So, this year I'm going to those seeds. Wish me luck😄
best onion source for me for onion plants i get them as plants that you have to plant not sets technically has been Hoss Tools. I planted my onions a week ago November is ideal for fall planted onions.
I watched your previous video and you mentioned vernalization, which you tried and got smaller bulbs, turns out thats used for flowering (hence why tulips need to since we grow them for flowers) so since we didnt want the seeds the plants just became small, brittanica says 26°c+ for 2 to 3 weeks should be enough to make the bulb phase happen and reverse vernalization. Heres what i found "Devernalization can be brought about by exposing previously vernalized plants or seeds to high temperatures, causing a reversion to the original nonflowering condition. Onion sets that are commercially stored at near freezing temperatures to retard spoilage are thereby automatically vernalized and ready to flower as soon as they are planted. Exposure to temperatures above 26.7° C (80° F) for two to three weeks before planting, however, shifts the sets to the desired bulb-forming phase." maybe now people will have bigger and better success with sets and for long day onions maybe 0 scapes (could be a win or a loss depending on your needs as a person)
Brian, I see you're using drip tape. I have a question about connecting the tape to the barb that goes to the main line. Mine have a tube that you slip the tape over and then screw down the fitting that locks it in place. I have a terrible time getting the tape over the tube. Do you have an easy way to accomplish this? If anyone knows, it would be you. Please help...
I understand why my onions were teeny tiny bulbs! However, I live outside of Seattle where we don't necessarily have sunny days in the summer (last summer started in the first week of July). Would that be bad for growing onions?
I live in Delaware Day neutral/ intermediate day. Local stores only sell long day onion seeds. I feel like there aren’t as many choices for my area. I did have some success with a long day red onion but they didn’t get big but I also neglected them, they were a test so I just didn’t put time other than some weeding and fertilizer at planting.
Hi I grow onions usually from sets but tried to start seeds, they were fine until I planted out but after a week or so they started to disappear or the tops were gone, I guess something ate them. I’m in UK so thought maybe slugs but wasn’t sure if slugs ate onions and garlic.
I have never had good luck with onion bulbs. I do all my onions by seeds. Two days ago I planted around 250. When it comes to the big box stores there never in season with Arizona's planting season
I actually called the distribution center from the “farm” and they told me they were long day and correct for my area (I’m in SE TX DEFINITELY short day). She INSISTED she was right and that she’d been doing this for 20 years. I looked up the variety and they were long day. Home Depot told me they wouldn’t sell it here if it didn’t grow here. It was the weirdest phone call and she tried to sound like she was the all knowing gardener and I was a dingbat.
My onions get knocked over too early due to wind storms. Should I cut the tops partially down so they are not as tall and not as easily knocked over????
the seed package might say, but onion sets usually do not. You can look up the variety that is appropriate for your area ahead of time, and choose that way, if the sets are labeled, but it is not easy.
Hello, baby gardener here from Zone 8A! Would anybody happen to know when the best time to start growing onion seeds indoors in Zone 8A? I'm looking to grow a short day (Yellow Granex) and intermediate day (Candy) variety and want to get the correct starting time(s). I've seen online anywhere between October-January, but was wondering if a more experienced gardener would know how accurate this is
Great info. I have tried from seed in pots in the past with poor results. This year I tried again directly in the ground and ended up with a row of medium sized onions. I call that a victory 😀
Yup!
.41
I too have had your "success " with bulb onions.
Though a couple of years ago, a fellow beekeeper gave me 6 starts. I transplanted them into 1 gallon pots with a combo of compost and potting soil...put a 6 containers into a dark grey tub. I watered them by putting water into the tub.
I was dumbfounded in mid summer and had 4 out 6 beautiful bulbs of Walla Walla Sweet onions...they weren't huge...size of a baseball (around here, Washington, they average a softball). But it was my successful harvest.
But Now..thanks to you..I WILL be growing them again. Can't Wait
My first two years of growing onions I would get them at the local farm and ranch supply store, Texas sweet 1015’s and they grew huge, I move them around the garden but never like the first time. And I do get the bag of bulbs that are mixed red, white& yellow and have fair results. Last year I had none we had a week of cold weather in late May and my onions and garlic bolted. This year I never had scapes in them
Do they ever stop bolting once they've started?
15 years ago I worked on a farm in north Florida. The grower put me in charge of the onions. We grew what they called St. Augustine Sweets (Vidalia style onion). He ran the planter the first of September. When they got to the size of a small green onion a crew pulled them to plant in a larger field(10 acres). I did the fertilizing, cultivating and spraying. A large crew hand pulled them in mid April.
I tried some sets in my garden last year but let the grass and weeds get ahead of me. This year I planted some sets and have seedlings just about ready to transplant. I made sure I got short day seed. I am going to wait until after this latest storm to do that.
You're a great teacher, Brian! I'm not even interested in growing onions (we don't eat enough of them to warrant the space, and our container garden is small), but I always learn something, and the way you present the material is clear and useful. I also appreciate that you use your mistakes as a teaching tool! After all, failure is simply an opportunity to grow and learn. 🙂
I have been waiting for years to acquire this information about onions. I live in Los Angeles county and have only been able to grow green onions. I can't thank you enough for this incredible information about onions and daylight length. This is Next Level information! I've hit that subscribe button.
I needed this. My onions didn’t do well this year now I know what to do! Thank you!!
Lucky for me in Australia, there really is only short or intermediate onions and both grow in Melbourne extremely well.
Ours are bulbing now. Cant wait to start to eat fresh onions again.
So informative, thank you! I’m hitting my 1 year anniversary of planting my own veggies and last year I failed miserably on the onions. Hoping for better this year but no matter the outcome it’s a lot of fun and I’m always learning something new.
Found this information very useful, thank you Brian 🥰
You are an inspiration to my new Gardening channel fella. Thank you for sharing. Damien from Ireland
The most success I had in my raised beds this year was with onions (I'm in New England so I grow Long Day onions). I struggled with soil conditions with everything else I planted, but the onions did great. I recently collected soil samples and sent them off to be analyzed and I'm awaiting results. I still have quite a few red onions left (Red Candy Apple variety). I use the white Walla Wallas first as they do not keep as long. (got my starts from Dixondale Farms online)
I just put my order in to Dixondale. I'm in S. Calif. We can transplant Nov 15 the to Jan 15th. The sooner they're in, typically, the bigger the onions get. About Easter, I pull out any small ones for green onions. That let's the best ones get bigger.
Curious about the results from your soul test. I think of East Coast as acidic soil... but onions favor soil a bit alkaline. Brocolli also likes alkaline.
Thank you thank you!! I just ordered short day onion seeds this morning and was worried I might be too late! I’m in Southern California too so it looks like I’m right on time!
A big thank you and another usage for your onion method. When I planted onion seeds in my transplant containers (toilet rolls!), I also did carrots. I have always had issues with carrots in washing away the seed before they root, getting them to root, etc. After three weeks, both containers were full of sprouted seedlings and I followed your directions of soaking in water to separate the seedlings and planting immediately. It has been 4 days and all life forms are going strong! Thanks so much!
So helpful! I needed this!
Oh wow❣️ That’s why I only ever got the little thin bulbs, as you pictured. 🙁 I used sets too. I haven’t found anything to show me long day, which is what I need. Thanks a million for sharing this important detail Brian. 🥰
Great results using sets in Ireland so long day variety used.
Don’t know what was my dads reason for this but he always used sets to grow green onions and the bundles of what looks like green onions (transplants?) to grow bulbs. He lived in Nebraska and always had great gardens every year. I live in north Texas and have terrible luck gardening. I try to remember what I can from what he did but I wish he was still here to help me. Thanks for all you do. I didn’t know to watch for short day onions. Will definitely be on my radar now.
Your dad knew what he was doing. If you want good size bulbs use transplants. Keep the weeds out and use mulch.
I'm a newer Gardner in zone 10b. I don't have many years of experience--just a few--so take this for what it's worth. I used onion sets two years ago and used seed last year. I had larger onions when I used sets. I'm trying sets again this year to see if I once again have better results from sets. I think there were a couple of other variables in there that might have affected my results, so we'll see. I've grown my onions in a thin property side-strip where I also grow ornamental sweet peas. It seems like they are pretty good companions.
They can't be that old when you buy them though and going dormant is a small risk no matter what.
I recommend buying plants from Dixondale Farms in Texas. My family has used them for several decades. If you can find other nearby gardeners to join you in an order, it makes them reasonably priced.
Hi Brian, I buy my starts from Dixondale Farms in Texas. The onions are usually about 5-6 inches long, very skinny and it is in a bunch of about 50. I love their starts, and it is such a great way to do onions, I get great crops. It is a family owned farm and they have been doing this for years and years. I always get great onton growth and the price is fantastic for what you get. They guide you through which type you need (short, intermediate and long) and are very helpful and friendly if you call them with questions. I had some that went to seed and saved them, so I planted those already to see if I will get onions from them that I like too.
Love your show Brian. I've learnt so much. Re onion growing...you asked for comments. I live in the south west of England so we have a mild temperature..very rarely get snow. I plant sets each spring,red and golden and I always get a great crop. I strung them.uo in sept/October time and I'm just using the last ones now in May. I found your tips on fertilisers extremely helpful. Keep your presentations going. They are great especially your tomato ones..Thank you. ps. I was so very sorry to hear about your medical issues and I do hope you continue to improve...that's amazing..
I’m in zone 6b and will have freezing temperatures at night soon. I’m planning on harvesting the green onion and garlic tops that have come up, because the frost will take them anyway, might as well enjoy them right!
I planted two onions that sprouted in my fridge raider and from those two I got 12 nice pretty good size onions since I didn’t even know what I was doing!
Another great show. I do pretty well with onions but as always, I’ve learned new information today that I plan to incorporate next year. Thank you. You are the best.
Thank you very much for sharing, my first was a flop, not even green toppings came up, I’ve planted now in the ground, it’s mid Spring in South Africa now, I’ll post pics when I have success from this harvest, 🤞🏼
I honestly cannot thank you enough for this very informative video!!
I have had a hard time growing onions 😢 i watched your video last year and tried, but didn’t prep the soil properly, gardener error. This year I am already seeing sprouts so I will be separating them instead of cutting them. Thanks for the videos and for keeping it real. 🧅
I learned a lot from this video. I companion planted so I did get some good use out of my onions but my bulbs were really skinning and small. Going to order seeds to get the proper plants now. Thank you!!!!
grew onions from sets last year and had no problem except, as you mentioned about drainage, some of them rotted due to the extreme rain we had at one point. I live in a warm climate with mild winters. Thanks again for all of your work. I love your channel.
Saw a video. The lady topped the onions when the bulbs started to make bulbs. To 6 inch tall. She said it puts the onion's growing energy into making bulbs not making the leaves bigger. She also pull the dirt from around the bulbs. She said that makes the bulbs get larger.
This video has ALL the pertinent info I need!
Thank You Brian!
I'm in zone 8b in Texas, and the one and only time I tried to grow onions was the Fall/Winter/Spring of 2019-20.
This time frame just happens to include that infamous Polar Vortex which paralyzed Texas for 6 days straight.
Timing is everything, right?
Yes, I'm still holding a grudge with that storm, even though all the humans in my household made it through the storm without any big problems.
My grudge came from what that storm did to my gardens, and all the flora near me.
I'm not normally a "grudge" type of person.
And,
I never thought I would hold a grudge against something like a storm!
But here I am.
Anyway, my onion and garlic story from that year is a long one. I won't bore anyone with the sad, weird, details.
The bottom line is that I haven't tried growing onions since then.
And I'm still not growing them this time around either.
However, with the extra info such as when to stop feeding them, and what to look for when they've stopped bulbing, I now feel a lot more confident whenever I do start growing them, again!
As for right now...
I still don't trust Father Winter.
He's been pretty squirrely ever since that Vortex came for an extended visit...
We'll see how I feel next year.
Haha, I had to laugh at ur grudge bc I’m from Texas too, zone 8a. That polar vortex was CRAZY! I wasn’t gardening then as far as edibles, had just started trying to see if I could keep roses alive when that storm hit. By a small miracle, I did, but it was def a storm to remember! This year was the first time I tried growing food, and I tried onions, but also didn’t grow the right kind for our area. Going to try again tho in 2023. Good luck with ur future gardening! 💐
@@loricawley54 My roses came thru the storm too, but they took nearly the rest of the year to recover.
Our Live Oaks who I've never seen them drop all their leaves at once, did exactly that right as the storm thawed.
Naked Oaks all around!!
It was freaky!
What was worse, those trees, some more than 200 years old, STAYED NAKED for MONTHS afterward!!
MONTHS!!!
NAKED TREES!!!
I've never seen anything like it.
I thought for sure they were dying, or already dead.
It wasn't until May, I think, when the weather finally got above 90° and much to my great relief THAT'S when the Oaks started growing their leaves again.
I've never been so happy to see 90° or trees leaf out before!
That storm left an indelible mark on my gardening soul.
Truly, a weather scar.
If there is such a thing...
And now, in just a couple of nights, the temps will be dropping to estimated 34°F.
I'm a die hard warm weather girl.
A frost tender flower, that's me.
Needless to say -
I'm not ready for freezing weather again.
@@gardengatesopen I, too, am a frost tender flower and enjoy the heat far more than the cold! Texas girl thru and thru! Completely agree that snowmaggedon was a freak of weird nature, and I hope not to see another storm like it in the future!! My hubby and I just took down a 60 yr old diseased fruitless mulberry by ourselves (nearly killed us both haha). We planted two Shumard Red Oaks in our front yard to replace that mulberry we took down. They’ve been in the ground for about 8 weeks, and they’re turning such a beautiful red color. Since we don’t get to see much of the leaves changing colors in west Texas, I’ve loved the show they’re putting on. I will confess that I’m nervous with this frost we have coming, and probably will be a mother hen with those trees lol. Since I’ve gotten into gardening, it’s become such a passion, and I love it! This summer we had such a drought here, and ofc I decided to try growing food for the first time lol. Drought has some lessons that it used to spank me a few times, but I did learn a lot. I truly hope all ur plants and trees continue to recover bc I know what it’s like to lose a plant u’ve invested money, sweat, time, and tears into! ❤️🙏🏻🥰
We don't have enough leaf changing color over here in Central Tx either, hardly any.
That alone has pushed me into any tree with fall color, but Japanese Maples seem to feed my addiction for the "changing of the leaves" !
I cannot get enough of them!
Luckily they make good understory trees.
Here's hoping Texas makes it to at thru least November without this storm wreaking any major gardening havoc!
I still have seeds to sprout!
We too have been suffering from the Summer drought.
I waited for this Fall to grow seeds bcuz the Summer was just too hot & dry.
You're already in West Tx, I can't imagine how bad it has to get to make y'all feel a drought! Ugh!!
This past year I felt like West Tx has moved into my neighborhood!
So, howdy neighbor! 😉
(We're all closer than we think.)
Yep,
the weather is definitely weirder than usual...
PERFECT TIMING! Thank you for this one!
nice fun vid. Thanks.
I am trying to grow white onions. I live in zone 6. I added mycchorizea to the soil. I used good quality seed starting soil. I am starting them in pots. The onion seeds are intermediate. We get long cold winters here. I am all set for spring. I can't wait. !!! I never had a good time growing from sets either. ;)
I needed this! I have struggled with onions and haven't had any luck besides green onions.
Just rewatched the video. Now I'm off to separate my onion transplants that I started from seed. Thanks from Florida
Just bought 4 pounds of little bulbs ...mixed variety. Popped them into a planter in the greenhouse way too close to each other and they are 4 inches high now. I'm in Tennessee 7A .... need to see if they survive outside!
This was such a great clear teaching, thank you!
I have never successfully grown onion from seeds. I have had great success with sets!
Thank u. Mine have always come out like the picture in the beginning of the vid. But this year i will buy the right seeds and take ur advice.
Awesome! I didn't know about the different onions either and so true the garden centers especially the big ones the bring in the wrong type last year it was pitiful. Very good video Brian! Always! 🤗❤🤗
LOL 😂 @ self. I grew the same itty-bitty onions you did.
Thanks to your instructions, I'll grow 'real' onions next year.
Great to know!!! I’d almost all but given up on growing onions and garlic! About to watch the other video for info!!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻💪🏻
I have grown them from sets and have been successful in getting a fair amount of bulbs. This year I have started them from seeds, bur direct sowed. Next year I will do them from seeds in containers since I saw how you rinsed and separated. I didn't realize you can separate them like that!!
I live in Philadelphia PA. A northern city. I always bought long day onions. I never got good bulbs. I learned that my zone is 7. 7 and above requires intermediate or short day. I started buying those and got good results from spring growing. I think i could've gotten great results if i transplanted them earlier. My opinion is no matter whether north or south, if u r in zone 7 or above, gow intermediate or short. Grow them from seed early. U can easily find them online by long, intermediate or short day.
His chart shows long day onions for Pa.
I've grown sets, plants and seeds. As I have found with everything I grow seeds are the best and the most economical. Like you it took figuring out the day length thing to finally have success. Try different varieties and things like bunching onions and walking onions.
Excellent summer harvest using sets…western Kentucky
I have never had a good growth from onion sets.. I am going to try seeds this late winter...
Thank you for my onions, I made potato onion soup with curry and ginger and it was delicious 😋
How do you plant sets? This is my first time growing onions. I’m in 8A, and some say just set them on top of the soil, but it looks like you put yours in the soil. Which is it? Thank you!
You don't want to. On ions are bi-annual. Most sets will think it is the second season and give you seeds instead of bulbs. -- Do a search. --Ray Delbury Sussex County NJ USA
Great info Brian, thank you 😊
Oh, my goodness! I had no idea there were onion types! I just ordered some long day onion seeds. I look forward to a great harvest next year!
Highly recommend Dixondale farms in Texas for onion plants. They always do well for me - I get all big onions. They have a catalog that explains everything. But I'm also planning to try onion seeds myself this year.
Holy moly, what was that gorgeous pollinator on the onion flowers?! 😍🤔🤔
Planting seeds tomorrow in zone 8b. Is it too late for my short day onion seeds??😮
Omg I got sets and they are growing, and my shallots are starting to come up. Hope I get bulbs. The onions didn’t nec say long or short 😂
Thank you. I saved seed from a few onions that flowered last year. Do they need to get cold before they germinate? Enjoyed this video.Great info I will be using this year!
I started from seed last year and it really needed a couple of months of growth to have been big enough to do well when I transplanted them. I planted my seedlings about the size in your video and nothing really matured to something that would be an edible bulb. On the other hand I bought some seedlings at my local Agway which were 8 to 10 inches tall (and had been trimmed so probably taller), and those grew just fine. We have a pretty short growing season here in 6B outside Boston so although the seedlings will handle the cold pretty well there's not a lot of growing time so seedlings need to be bigger than those in your video. This year I'm going to start my seeds in late December or early January instead of February. I'm looking for them to be so tall I need to give them a haircut. I'd like them 8 or 10 inches tall when I put them in the ground. By the way it's also worth mentioning that you can put seedlings in the ground sooner than you can sets because they can handle the cold better than sets will.
Thank you for helpful info! I’m in zone 5, and had success with planting semi-dormant sweet white onion plants from nursery, not bulbs. My question is…. Some produced seed last year, do I need to cold stratify those before planting? I stored them inside at room temp. Thanks
Thank you so much for this video! I always learn so much! One thing though I didn’t hear you mention how often do you water these. You went into all of the growing and fertilizing but not watering
great information..thankyou! cheers from Australia. 😁
I grew onions in Del Mar from sets. They did really well in container and got really nice big onions. I did not know about pruning so they did not get as big as I would have liked. I used Gurneys short day white and red (Candy) variety. They sent so many small onion plants I was giving them away.
This is a great show!
Very informative, thank you ❤
Yes! Thats my onion fail… annually. I got a handful of Egyptian Walking onions and they make great green onions. But what are their potential for growing bulbs? Am I doomed to only green walking onion? I planted the walking onions in a bag of garden soil, some red some white, both were walking onion? I dunno. Do I transplant the seedling onions I have growing now? If so in what kind of soil? Thanks.
I have had good luck with sets and then other times they didn't do good at all. I tried seedlings last year and they were a waste of time, money and space. I got baseball sized onions one year from sets. I'm guessing I got the wrong type for my area last year, because they didn't do good at all! Thanks for the info. Definitely need to look and find the right ones!
I got some of that Neptune’s crab n lobster you recommend. The cat tore through the bag, then the gallon sized ziploc I put it in. Is now digging where I’ve placed it. Must be good stuff. It’s now on a very high shelf he cant get to until I can find a better solid receptacle for it, and is being kept inside for awhile.
Question. Looking at the map of our state Arkansas we look like intermediate onions. Then I put my zip code in and I get a different answer. Appears I’m between intermediate to short onion growth. What should I do? Frustrating
Love your videos! Do you have any tips for growing celery? I live in zone 6b Southern Ontario Canada. Mine never get nice thick stalks!
I struggle with onions from seed. I do ok with leeks and green onions. Hoped to succeed with onion seeds this year and failed when again when I sowed them in pony packs in our warm weather.
So, I got my order in to Dixondale Farms in Texas. I'm just north of you in southern Riverside County. I'm transplanting a few hundred onion babies after Thanksgiving. I've used the company for 25 years, and my dad used them before that. I feel I'm saving water too by using their seedlings.
I use blood and bone meal. It helps keep gophers away as they don't like the smell.
We still have to trap gophers; but if a few get past us, they prefer things like... grumble grumble... full grown brocolli, potatoes that are ready to harvest, OH and young bean plants. Been here 25 years, and if we stop trapping, the cute little guys WILL destroy the garden. We dug a new leach field, and the gopher tunnels were interesting. They ran parallel and about a foot out from the irrigation drip lines. The holes you see pop up in the garden, are sideways from the main tunnel. Then, a few feet under main tunnel, was a second tunnel running exactly the same, and periodic connectors to the upper tunnel. There can be miles of tunnels within a neighborhood, all connected. Hope it helps you understand your nemesis, the gopher. I get it. But, we still garden ... There's enough for us both when the population is moderated. Also, I try to hope there is some purpose. Perhaps they're aerating our hard soil?
So I ordered short day onion sets from a reputable site. They will be arriving Nov. 14. I was told to plant right away, but here in zone 10A I find out that planting of these onions should be early January. Sigh. How will this affect my production? Anything I can do to change this outcome?
Hey Brian, off topic but I’m wondering if you sell seed garlic??
Yours look just like mine though mine were a little larger this year. I grew Walla Walla Sweets, Spanish, and Red onions.
I am in the Willamette valley
I noticed the same thing with the big box stores. I just grow onions from seed for this reason because I have never seen intermediate or short day onion sets. So I just grow them from seed.
I'm in 9b CA. So frustrating, when you go to a garden center and the packet does not indicate, if the seeds are short day onion. So true about the seed packets not having the information on them. Thank you.
I've always grown sets, but don't think they were made for Western Washington. I got a few descent onions over the years, but most of them bolted and started flowering. I guess they thought they were in their second year. Last year, I got some pretty good sized onions and only two bolted. I saved the seeds. So, this year I'm going to those seeds. Wish me luck😄
The crab and lobster shell I see is a 5.3.0 fertlizer is that the one we use for onions.
Do we apply it every 2 weeks also.
best onion source for me for onion plants i get them as plants that you have to plant not sets technically has been Hoss Tools. I planted my onions a week ago November is ideal for fall planted onions.
I watched your previous video and you mentioned vernalization, which you tried and got smaller bulbs, turns out thats used for flowering (hence why tulips need to since we grow them for flowers) so since we didnt want the seeds the plants just became small, brittanica says 26°c+ for 2 to 3 weeks should be enough to make the bulb phase happen and reverse vernalization. Heres what i found "Devernalization can be brought about by exposing previously vernalized plants or seeds to high temperatures, causing a reversion to the original nonflowering condition. Onion sets that are commercially stored at near freezing temperatures to retard spoilage are thereby automatically vernalized and ready to flower as soon as they are planted. Exposure to temperatures above 26.7° C (80° F) for two to three weeks before planting, however, shifts the sets to the desired bulb-forming phase." maybe now people will have bigger and better success with sets and for long day onions maybe 0 scapes (could be a win or a loss depending on your needs as a person)
Brian, I see you're using drip tape. I have a question about connecting the tape to the barb that goes to the main line. Mine have a tube that you slip the tape over and then screw down the fitting that locks it in place. I have a terrible time getting the tape over the tube. Do you have an easy way to accomplish this? If anyone knows, it would be you. Please help...
Excellent
I understand why my onions were teeny tiny bulbs! However, I live outside of Seattle where we don't necessarily have sunny days in the summer (last summer started in the first week of July). Would that be bad for growing onions?
Do you ever pull the dirt away from the onions while they are growing? Actually growing the bulb on top of the ground?
I live in Delaware Day neutral/ intermediate day. Local stores only sell long day onion seeds. I feel like there aren’t as many choices for my area. I did have some success with a long day red onion but they didn’t get big but I also neglected them, they were a test so I just didn’t put time other than some weeding and fertilizer at planting.
Is there any chance a short day variety would plump up later in the fall of a northern climate?
Hi I grow onions usually from sets but tried to start seeds, they were fine until I planted out but after a week or so they started to disappear or the tops were gone, I guess something ate them. I’m in UK so thought maybe slugs but wasn’t sure if slugs ate onions and garlic.
I grew walla walla sweets and found when I left the onions in the ground over winter they grew into that big onion you see at the grocery.
9b here…. So I start the seed in November?
When is a good time to plant onions for zone 8b
What is the bushy plant behind you?
I have never had good luck with onion bulbs. I do all my onions by seeds. Two days ago I planted around 250. When it comes to the big box stores there never in season with Arizona's planting season
I actually called the distribution center from the “farm” and they told me they were long day and correct for my area (I’m in SE TX DEFINITELY short day). She INSISTED she was right and that she’d been doing this for 20 years. I looked up the variety and they were long day. Home Depot told me they wouldn’t sell it here if it didn’t grow here. It was the weirdest phone call and she tried to sound like she was the all knowing gardener and I was a dingbat.
And contrary to some beliefs, gophers will eat onions! Last year I had a gopher take out my first successful bulbing red onions.
What was the bee-like insect with the yellow spots on its back in this video?
Lol, how are the gophers doing?
My onions get knocked over too early due to wind storms. Should I cut the tops partially down so they are not as tall and not as easily knocked over????
thank you!!
Mine always go to flower...I am going to try seeds next year.
How do you tell which onions are short day or medium day, etc?
the seed package might say, but onion sets usually do not. You can look up the variety that is appropriate for your area ahead of time, and choose that way, if the sets are labeled, but it is not easy.
Sets are a waste of time for me..transplants did ok but now I’m trying seeds.
Hello, baby gardener here from Zone 8A! Would anybody happen to know when the best time to start growing onion seeds indoors in Zone 8A? I'm looking to grow a short day (Yellow Granex) and intermediate day (Candy) variety and want to get the correct starting time(s). I've seen online anywhere between October-January, but was wondering if a more experienced gardener would know how accurate this is