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Post by kazedwards on Apr 21, 2014 12:08:30 GMT -5
So I started some onions on February 3 and and planted them out on April 1. They were trimmed to about 2 inches the week before and we're not much taller than that. They all had what I thought was a nice set of roots on them when I transplanted them. Most of them have now withered away I think. They were so small that I had a hard time finding them to begin with after I put them out. I can now only find maybe 15 out of 56. Only a few that I can find seem to be doing well and several are very pale with very little green. What did I do wrong? Should I have left them at 5 or 6 inches tall? Would that have helped?
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Apr 21, 2014 12:28:02 GMT -5
I can't grow onions indoors to be transplanted. So I direct sow seeds.
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Post by mjc on Apr 21, 2014 12:44:56 GMT -5
Basically, yeah, they were too small. You can trim them before setting them out, but I don't like to set them out unless they are at least 1/8" preferably 1/4" in diameter (about the size you'd buy if buying plants...that's almost pencil sized).
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Post by kazedwards on Apr 21, 2014 14:26:04 GMT -5
Well the ones I put out are the size of a hair. Lol that must be my problem. I would need to start them way earlier from the sounds if it. Joseph, how early so you direct seed and do they get to a useable size? I have always read that they don't get big if at all.
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Post by longhorngardens on Apr 21, 2014 19:58:51 GMT -5
I start mine on the Winter Solstice indoors and they are thicker than a goose quill by now. Try starting them earlier next year.
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Post by steev on Apr 21, 2014 20:20:14 GMT -5
"Thicker than a goose quill"; I like that; it's neither English nor Metric, but pretty clear (to some people).
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Post by longhorngardens on Apr 21, 2014 20:26:30 GMT -5
Thank you. Lol
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Post by oxbowfarm on Apr 21, 2014 21:16:18 GMT -5
I tried something new this year and I'm very excited about it. A fellow farmer at market mentioned that they plant their onions as plugs, semi-copying Elliot Colemans "multi-plant" soil block concept except growing them in a plug flat instead of in a soil block. I already use Speedling plug flats, mostly for greens transplants, but I've done 5 trays of onions this spring. So far it is working great. The plugs hold together very well, which I was concerned about as onions don't have much of a root system. Apparently the roots from multiple seedlings do an acceptable job holding the plug together, cells with singleton seedlings usually fell apart on me. Transplanting was a dream with the plugs vs transplanting individual onion seedlings, and I spaced them at 12" in the row so it is easy to cultivate between the clumps of onions. We'll see how they do as they size up, but right now I'm really pleased. Usually I start flats of onions and they croak on me because I procrastinate planting them, because I hate transplanting individual onions with their wispy roots and floppiness. Unless they totally fail to bulb up, I think I've found a new onion protocol.
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Post by philagardener on Apr 21, 2014 21:46:08 GMT -5
"Thicker than a goose quill"; I like that; it's neither English nor Metric, but pretty clear (to some people). I think I get the point! |
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Post by 12540dumont on Apr 21, 2014 21:59:02 GMT -5
Also, onions hate being dry. If you transplant, you must water. Often, till they start to get past the goosey size.
My disappearing onions are down to gophers.
Leo calls them the "Oakland, Western Deep Pocket Gophers". All related to the T Rex gophers.
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Post by paquebot on Apr 21, 2014 23:10:00 GMT -5
Nightcrawlers love onions. If I set out 100 onion plants, I can figure on having to re-plant maybe 10% within a week. If plants are big enough, they'll only chew on the end of the tops and the plants are salvageable. If a small plant, it's gone. I plant onions and then sprinkle shredded leaves around them to keep the crawlers happy.
Martin
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Post by steev on Apr 21, 2014 23:30:47 GMT -5
I'd think that planting plugs of multiple onions, for their mutual support, would crowd them; eager for further reports.
Aw! C'mon, Holly; Oakland Western Deep Pocket Gophers? That's cold! There are only gophers in the hills (the upscale parts), where the drainage is good.
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Post by richardw on Apr 22, 2014 4:14:06 GMT -5
kazedwards ,I'm puzzled by -
what does this achieve?
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Post by Walk on Apr 22, 2014 7:40:36 GMT -5
I tried something new this year and I'm very excited about it. A fellow farmer at market mentioned that they plant their onions as plugs, semi-copying Elliot Colemans "multi-plant" soil block concept except growing them in a plug flat instead of in a soil block. I already use Speedling plug flats, mostly for greens transplants, but I've done 5 trays of onions this spring. So far it is working great. The plugs hold together very well, which I was concerned about as onions don't have much of a root system. Apparently the roots from multiple seedlings do an acceptable job holding the plug together, cells with singleton seedlings usually fell apart on me. Transplanting was a dream with the plugs vs transplanting individual onion seedlings, and I spaced them at 12" in the row so it is easy to cultivate between the clumps of onions. We'll see how they do as they size up, but right now I'm really pleased. Usually I start flats of onions and they croak on me because I procrastinate planting them, because I hate transplanting individual onions with their wispy roots and floppiness. Unless they totally fail to bulb up, I think I've found a new onion protocol. This is the method that a large scale (80+ acres in veggies) organic market farm near us uses. I've been doing it this way for the past few years after I saw how well it worked for them. Much easier and the onions turn out just as nice as fussing with individual plants. |
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Post by kazedwards on Apr 22, 2014 8:14:49 GMT -5
kazedwards ,I'm puzzled by - what does this achieve? That way I don't need to move the light so when they get tall enough to touch it I trim them down. They also tend to fall over if they get to tall. I don't think I will next year. Thank you to everyone for there input |
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