Comments on: Onions

By: Emily

Emily — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 22:44:43 +0000

Diane–I’ve never made compost tea, but I would use it as an all purpose fertilizing boost, but I don’t believe it has enough N-P-K to consider it “fertilizer”. Some plants will need additional sources of particular nutrients, so you should find organic options (blood meal, bone meal, fish meal, soybean meal, etc.).

By: Diane

Diane — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 22:17:41 +0000

Hello Emily…WOW! Am I ever learning a lot on your wonderful site! I have a question. I am a “newbie” at gardening having only grown tomatoes and peppers the last two summers. This year I have a larger area and am trying my hand at organic gardening. I did some reading on compost tea…made up a 5 gallon batch and have used t on all my young plants. Is this considered fertilizer? I noticed you said only fertilize x amount of times (depending on the veggie) if I regularly use compost tea on all my veggies would I be over doing it? Or is the tea different than actually fertilizing? Thank you (in advance ;-D)
Diane in N.E. Texas

By: Plant Onions

Plant Onions — Wed, 19 May 2010 17:06:12 +0000

Some of the gardening forums recommend against planting sets though many of the university extensions mention nothing about this. The reason is that sets tend to bolt fast.

You can plant seeds, sets or plants once you can work the soil. Onion plants are very hardy and will survive down to 20º.

By: Dina

Dina — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:44:22 +0000

Hi,

This is my second garden and I can get everything to grow except for my onions. This time I planted “starters” in hopes that they would grow. I got very excited because the tops are long and thick…but as I read above… this might be “leggy?”
I have pulled a few up and there are no actual onions. Do I just wait? Is this normal? Any and all answers are helpful; I am lost here.

Thanks,
Dina
SF, CA

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:54:50 +0000

Quinn,

It will kill the plant if you harvest just the green tops. The way to use them is to pull the entire plant–they will look similar to green onions in the store.

That is why you can plant up to 16 per square foot, then thin them down to 4 per square by using them as green onions.

By: Quinn

Quinn — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:46:00 +0000

Hi,

If I harvest the green tops of my onion sets (which are now about 7′ tall), will it kill the bulb, or can I harvest the tops continuously and then harvest the onion bulb itself at the end of the season?

I’d love any help!

-Quinn (Charlottesville, VA)

By: Emily

Emily — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:01:15 +0000

I think they are sprouting–all conditions must have been perfect! Hurray!

By: Melanie

Melanie — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:22:55 +0000

Thanks so much for the tips!! I just planted mine a few days ago and I already see green shoots coming up – could they be sprouting already?? I’ve planted both yellow and red starts. Yippee!!!!

By: Chiot's Run

Chiot's Run — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:46:12 +0000

For Heather and her leggy cabbage & broccoli plants, they do well to be transplanted deeper than they were in their flat cells. I typically plant them about half way up the stem. They like tomatoes will root on the stem.

By: Chiot's Run

Chiot's Run — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:37:43 +0000

What a great site! I was trying to figure out when to plant my onion seedlings outside and I came across your site. Love it!

I’m also square foot gardening on my little lot in NE Ohio.