Vegetable Garden Starting onions from seed

[insomniacgrace]

This is too helpful and useful for me. Thanks!

[jude1c9v]

im in zone 7, so it might work. thank you for your help, im gonna try it and see what happens. thx again

mike

[jude1c9v]

ok..so i start onion from seeds in fall, transplant in mid winter and they will be fine in snow/cold and be big onion bulbs come june or july?

[webcajun]

@jude1c9v ... I'm in zone 8 and it works down here. Check with your county agent if you live up north......Donald

[RosaButton]

I live in Brooksville, FL, can I plant anytime of the year? TY :)

[webcajun]

@RosaButton ...I would plant seeds in the fall and transplants in late winter........Donald

[jude1c9v]

@webcajun do i need to put mulch over transplants? or just leave them as they are?

[webcajun]

@jude1c9v ... I don't put any......Donald

[caholaway]

Are onions like a winter wheat? Do you plant them in the fall and harvest in the spring? (I'm new) Great video!

[webcajun]

@caholaway ...Yes, when starting with seed they are planted in the fall, transplanted and spaced out in late winter then harvested May-June.......Donald

[12345mike6789]

Is it true that it is easy to over water the onion bulbs? Last year half of my onions didnt get larger then a golf ball but then again I tried to not give them too much water. Thanks for any advice, Mike

[webcajun]

@12345mike6789 ...Like most other vegetables you've got to water them when it's dry. Variety has a lot to do with the size of the onion......Donald

[goodolarchie]

I like your style, Mr. Cajun!

[webcajun]

@goodolarchie ...Keeping it simple.....Donald

[MRTHATSFAKEANDGAY]

Hey! i was just wondering how long it takes from u plant the seed until u can harvest the onion?thanks

[webcajun]

@MRTHATSFAKEANDGAY ... I plant the seeds in the fall (around Oct.) then transplant and space out the plants around February and harvest around May......Donald

[MRTHATSFAKEANDGAY]

@webcajun thanks=)

[jude1c9v]

how long does it take for the onions seed to make large enough bulbs to transplant?

[webcajun]

@jude1c9v ... during the winter time it takes about 3 months. I let em grow 2-3 times the size you get from the feed and seed so it takes mine a little longer........Donald

[jude1c9v]

I'm gonna start them in my greenhouse this winter, what is the ideal soil temp?

[ThisIsKingBalls]

well i mean how would get them out of the onion and what would the process be of puting them into that envelope

thanks

zach

[webcajun]

@ThisIsKingBalls ... the seeds aren't in the onion. A seed head forms at the very top of the plant. Once that seed head looks dry, remove it and set it aside for a couple of weeks to allow it to dry out completely. Shack them over a pan and the seeds will fall out........Donald

[ThisIsKingBalls]

how can you preserve seeds from onions that youv allready grown?

say for next year season.

thanks

zach

[webcajun]

@ThisIsKingBalls ... Hey Zach, put the seeds in a paper envelope and store them in a cool, dry place........ Donald

[purpledream77]

Cajun,

I'm in the south like you are, except I'm in the Southwest.

What time of the year would you recommend starting onions from seeds?

I hear it should be somewhere around september-november. Is this correct?

I really want to try green onions and bulb onions.

Can I plant green onions anytime of the year?

[webcajun]

@purpledream77 ... I'll start my onion seed around October and transplant around February. Green onions can be started just about year round. In fact I'm about to start some now........Donald

[purpledream77]

@webcajun Thanks so much!

=)

[shebird71]

Thank you,

we really enjoy your videos they are very informative.

[webcajun]

@shebird71 ... you're welcome......Donald

[shebird71]

Hi,

My name is Sheila,

I'm wanting to collect my onion seeds for replanting.When will I know it's time to collect them?

[webcajun]

@shebird71 ... Hey Sheila, they'll make seed heads on the top of the stalk. Let em dry out and cut the heads off. Once they are good and dry you can usually just shake em and the seeds will fall.......Donald

[MrGreatLakesBuffalo]

Greetings. tip: I use mason cement boats for container gardening. Also they are hand for putting in fiber pots...for a place to bottom water. The mason boats are about $13 each...yet they will last a lifetime if handled well. Thanks for all the videos. ps. I wish a bunch of gents like you would run for president.  We need some good old fashoned common sense. Regards. Steve, Buffalo, NY.

[webcajun]

@MrGreatLakesBuffalo Hey Steve ... They don't want common sense in Washington D.C........ Donald

[gardenkids]

hey i did this last year and i came out with a lot of onions thanks for the idea  ps take care

[webcajun]

@gardenkids ... see how easy that was. Glad it worked out for you...... Donald

[webcajun]

Check out my video on Big Tomato Cages.......... Donald

[SPCkeith]

I have a few questions. 1 how long does it take for onions to mature from seed? i had planted some last year and when i pulled them in fall there was nothing there.

Also about how deep does a container need to be for grow good onions? I am wanting to grow indoors and would like to know how deep I need a container.

Thanks and may all our seeds sprout straight. :D

[webcajun]

@SPCkeith it usually takes about 120 days for onions to mature. Onions should be grown during the cool months. Best to grow your onions outside where they can get plenty sunlight.......... Donald

[shadowhog777]

I don't understand though, where does one "collect" onion seeds from the onion itself? Don't you just cut up and replant the bulb as you would say a piece of garlic?

[webcajun]

You can collect onion seeds from non-hybrid varieties. If left in the ground long enough they will make a seed head. The variety I plant is a hybrid so I buy my seeds. You can also buy bulbs and plant them....... Donald

[shadowhog777]

@webcajun thx

[theweirdthings]

@webcajun last year when i planet bulbs lots of different onions came out of 1 bulb then when i tried transplanting into my main patch they died got any suggestions?

[webcajun]

The type / variety of onion I plant "Candy" is one bulb, one plant........ Donald

[ccoasterdesigner]

"Remember, if it doesn't it's your fault!" lol I love it! I am going to subscribe to you!

[webcajun]

Guess what? It worked. LOL ...... Donald

[crazy650c]

Ha.  Love the homemade pvc seed broadcaster.

[webcajun]

Works good and cheap too...... Donald

[webcajun]

Glad you had a good year. Hope this one is even better...... Donald

[Hopefl1]

Can you please respond with your video to my my lastest gardening video from yesterday. It is the one were I used blocks and 2 x 4's. thanks

[webcajun]

It's done......  Donald

[itisphoto]

This is great stuff thanks for putting them out!

[webcajun]

Once you get the basics you'll realize just how easy all this is. Oh, it's a lot of fun too...... Donald

[packleader87]

This guy is a great guy

[webcajun]

Just an old country boy.

[Praxxus55712]

Hey Donald, you have pretty much an insane growing season down there. I'm up by the Canadian border and have never tried growing onions from seed. I'm planning on growing green onlions next spring. Basically all I need to do is plant seeds and that'll get me green onions, right? I've grown onions once from sets but never seeds.

[webcajun]

You can plant your green onions in a large pot and youll have all the tops you can use all season long. Just cut the tops off and they will grow back in about 3 weeks. They love plenty fertilizer and need water often because they have shallow roots. I ordered the "Parade" from Park Seed and they grew all summer long, which was surprising to me cause they are suppose to be a cool weather crop.

[jstrunck]

W.C.,

Sorry to hear about the middle buster. It looks like it is ready to go now! Hope all is well at your place.

Take Care,

John

[webcajun]

Hey John,

Replacing the furrower is a 2 bolt job. Only takes a few bucks, a few minutes and you are back in business. Needless to say I won't be going back and breaking up any ground for that fellow. Too many hazards. LOL

[greentxmama]

Loved this video. Hope you do an update down the road on how the transplanting goes. :)

[webcajun]

Thanks and I will try to do that. I still have a bunch of seeds so I may start a few more containers. Was also thinking of planting some in the garden and not transplanting them, just thin em out once they come up and let em grow. That way I would be able to tell which method works the best for me. Just got a big rain so I cannot do much of anything out there for a few days.

[ussyless]

Hi webcajun, you filled your trough/planter about 4 inches deep right?

at home, i'm trying to raise onions from seed, directly planted aswell, i felt more confortable just broadcasting them everywhere then raking them in, first i just dug over the existing clayish-loam soil i had, and put about an inch of good compost over it, and then planted the seeds

also, i like you're crocs (the shoes) i try to wear them out but people tell me i look silly in them =P

thanks for the video

[webcajun]

I ended up filling it with about 6+ inches of compost. Thats the very first pair of Crocs I bought way back. The strap is gone, they are real slick when walking on wet concrete but they are still going strong. They will spoil you, real shoes now feel uncomfortable. Not good for walking in loose dirt though, too many holes in em.

[ohhyeahzulu]

donald, what is a piston? from a car? or something else. thanks

-caleb

[webcajun]

That is correct, a piston from an engine. If I had to guess it was from a tractor engine along with a lot of other metal and large chunks of wood. I believe many years ago there was an old work shop there. I don't think I actually hit the engine, but you never and tell.

[mywootgarden]

wow thats amazing! what kind of piston was it? from what engine ya think? the history is in the soil! congrats on renewing the firtility of the future and concreating the awesomness of today, the plants you grow help save not just carbon emitions from near you but are inspiring people all over the world to grow their own food and enjoy doing it, thanks :D

[webcajun]

Not too many years ago one of my hobbies was metal detecting, searching for Civil War relics.  I have found all sorts of things buried right under the surface from unexploded shells to Spanish coins dating back to the 1700s. I live on an old plantation site and in my garden have found old bottles, clay marbles and all sorts of pieces of iron. You would be amazed at what is buried in your own back yard.

[evcrawfish]

hello sir,

just goes to show you, no good deed goes unpunished. LOL. good idea on the starter container, use what ya got. necesity is the mother of invention. hope all thousand onions make, i love sautee'd onions. be careful and enjoy yourself.

EV crawfish

[webcajun]

Actually I got that container from my buddy to plant my green onions in but when I got it home it looked just a little too big for that so I just set it aside. When Tom told me how he started his onions in containers, the light bulb came on. I will be lucky if 75 percent of those seeds germinate.

[soul71]

WOW That's alot of onions. Did you know that you can grow 16 onions in one square foot. You have 6 SF and that's 96 onions in total. At 3 seeds a hole that's only 288 seeds. You could have roughly a 712 seed savings which is 2 and half more crops you could grow with that one bag of seeds. I know i'm running the numbers but that's what I do. I really enjoy your vids. You have taught me a lot and I know a lot of others feel the same. Keep up the great work.

[webcajun]

The onions will not be allowed to mature in that container. Once the bulbs form, they will be transplanted into the garden. When you have time watch my video on harvesting onions. Once you see the size of these things I think youll have to recalculate the 16 onions per square foot rule. I could maybe get 4 per square foot. Average weight this spring was a pound, some went 1 lb. 6 ozs.