Start Onions From Seed
Growing onions this year? Go for it!
If you are hoping to grow your own onions this year, now is a good time to start the seeds in pots. Starting onion seeds in pots or trays has a lot of advantages over sowing the seed directly in the ground.
Onions sown directly in the garden tend to get lost amidst weeds. The thin spindly seedlings can resemble grass and are easily overtaken. Instead, sow them in deep pots or trays. I place emphasis on deep because onion roots are really a thing to behold! They are very vigorous and will quickly fill up your pot. I usually plant them in 1 gallon pots.
We offer two farm favorites varieties on our website: Rosa di Milano and Valencia. We have grown these for years: one red and one yellow. They are both long keepers and will bulb up in most climate zones.
1. Sow seeds about 1/8-1/4 inch deep in good potting soil in a deep pot or tray. It's ok to sow thickly. I often will sow about 30-50 seeds in one gallon container.
2. Let onion seedlings 'size up' over 8 weeks then transplant in mid spring. They should be a little smaller than the thickness of a pencil when planted. Onions will thrive when established before any real heat sets in.
3. Keep onions weeded and watered all summer and harvest in approx late August-Sept when stalks are dying down.
4. Cure your crop in a warm shady place and store cool, dry and dark! Onions can be stored in a cool, frost free area in boxes or onion bags for about 5-6 months. They will naturally start to sprout the following February or so.
5. At that time, you could choose to replant them in your garden and produce a seed crop! That's what we do on the farm :)
Good luck with your onions this year and let us know if you have any questions!