This is 1 of 5 flats of onion starts. This one is Copra.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20%20Greenhouse%20Propagation/DSC03296.jpg[/img]
I trimmed these and I'm thinking about doing them again.
Just curious to see how others are doing.
Eric
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Everyones Indoor Onion Starts to Harvest
Last edited by DoubleDogFarm on Sun Jan 13, 2013 7:49 am, edited 5 times in total.
Thanks for starting this thread! Mine are almost that big, and I didn't know when they could go out. I just got my onion plot prepped yesterday. Someplace said not to plant them out until after last frost but that sounds silly since wild garlic is growing fast out in my lawn and some volunteer onions have been growing in the garden since the snow melted.
I found Sweet Spanish Yellow Utah Jumbo on the Ferry-Morse seed rack at Lowes (all of the other onion seeds were more or less wrong for my area--I've taken a lot of seed packs back after looking them up online). Walla Walla is another long day big sweet onion.
From what I understand you have to start onion seeds way early, or buy bunches of young onion plants. Last resort is to buy onion sets (little dried onions). Even my local hardware store is advertizing bags of 80 onion sets for $2, It's hard to find bundles of onion plants locally, but it may be possible if you have a good nursery around. Onion sets result in smaler onions that starting from plants, and some of them may bolt to flower/seed.
This is good info
https://www.dixondalefarms.com/category/onion_plants
From what I understand you have to start onion seeds way early, or buy bunches of young onion plants. Last resort is to buy onion sets (little dried onions). Even my local hardware store is advertizing bags of 80 onion sets for $2, It's hard to find bundles of onion plants locally, but it may be possible if you have a good nursery around. Onion sets result in smaler onions that starting from plants, and some of them may bolt to flower/seed.
This is good info
https://www.dixondalefarms.com/category/onion_plants
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I just posted this picture on another thread:
They are bunching onions there in the front but those are Walla Walla Sweets behind the sticker. I had just thrown water on them after their 1st day in some sunshine outdoors.
I planted the seed about the same time as you did, Eric. They haven't grown as much.
They were in the greenhouse from the get-go - which means, before I turned the heat on. They spent a number of nights, covered up on the floor because of fairly serious cold weather in February (hadn't emerged yet).
After the heat came on, they started to grow quickly even in the coldest corner. I put them in an unheated plastic tunnel about 10 days ago. They could go in the garden now I suppose but I was a little caught off guard by better weather. I mean, it snowed 2 days ago .
Steve
They are bunching onions there in the front but those are Walla Walla Sweets behind the sticker. I had just thrown water on them after their 1st day in some sunshine outdoors.
I planted the seed about the same time as you did, Eric. They haven't grown as much.
They were in the greenhouse from the get-go - which means, before I turned the heat on. They spent a number of nights, covered up on the floor because of fairly serious cold weather in February (hadn't emerged yet).
After the heat came on, they started to grow quickly even in the coldest corner. I put them in an unheated plastic tunnel about 10 days ago. They could go in the garden now I suppose but I was a little caught off guard by better weather. I mean, it snowed 2 days ago .
Steve
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[quote="TZ -OH6"]I found Sweet Spanish Yellow Utah Jumbo on the Ferry-Morse seed rack at Lowes (all of the other onion seeds were more or less wrong for my area--I've taken a lot of seed packs back after looking them up online). Walla Walla is another long day big sweet onion.
From what I understand you have to start onion seeds way early, or buy bunches of young onion plants. Last resort is to buy onion sets (little dried onions). Even my local hardware store is advertizing bags of 80 onion sets for $2, It's hard to find bundles of onion plants locally, but it may be possible if you have a good nursery around. Onion sets result in smaler onions that starting from plants, and some of them may bolt to flower/seed.
Thanks for all the info.
From what I understand you have to start onion seeds way early, or buy bunches of young onion plants. Last resort is to buy onion sets (little dried onions). Even my local hardware store is advertizing bags of 80 onion sets for $2, It's hard to find bundles of onion plants locally, but it may be possible if you have a good nursery around. Onion sets result in smaler onions that starting from plants, and some of them may bolt to flower/seed.
Thanks for all the info.
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This evening, I started planting some of my Copra onions. I didn't get very far, that hungry thing gets in the way.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20%20%20Garden%20Vegetables/DSC03305.jpg[/img]
Eric
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20%20%20Garden%20Vegetables/DSC03305.jpg[/img]
Eric
Last edited by DoubleDogFarm on Sun Jan 13, 2013 7:53 am, edited 4 times in total.
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I did an experiment this year - I planted some of the starts singly about 3-4" apart, then I planted some in clustered groups to see how differently the grow from the singles. I have seen some folks plant onions in groups and they say it works fine, they just push each other apart as they grow. I've never tried it, so we'll see! Last year I didn't get any onions so we can only improve this year!
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Desiree,
Keep us posted on the different spacings. I'm just guessing, I feel the crowded ones will not do as well. What variety are they?
I finished planting my Copra long storage onion. 216 little onion plants.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20%20%20Garden%20Vegetables/DSC03317.jpg[/img]
I'll start planting Borrettana Cipolline tomorrow.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20%20%20Garden%20Vegetables/DSC03319.jpg[/img]
Eric
Keep us posted on the different spacings. I'm just guessing, I feel the crowded ones will not do as well. What variety are they?
I finished planting my Copra long storage onion. 216 little onion plants.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20%20%20Garden%20Vegetables/DSC03317.jpg[/img]
I'll start planting Borrettana Cipolline tomorrow.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20%20%20Garden%20Vegetables/DSC03319.jpg[/img]
Eric
Last edited by DoubleDogFarm on Sun Jan 13, 2013 7:52 am, edited 4 times in total.
Set out some sweet onions today, Eric. However, they were much closer spaced than yours.
More than half will be harvested as green onions so that should provide the others with some room.
If I can time it right, the extras are gone about the time that a 2nd round of fertilizer will be of benefit to those left to bulb up.
Steve
More than half will be harvested as green onions so that should provide the others with some room.
If I can time it right, the extras are gone about the time that a 2nd round of fertilizer will be of benefit to those left to bulb up.
Steve
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I planted the older starts along path edges of various beds, but I think I'm actually going to plant most of the smallest onion starts as well as the leeks in last years "new potato bed" The trouble is this location is down hill from the rice paddy and can get wet. The potatoes did OK in spite of it though, so would the clay subsoil and drainage be an issue? maybe I should pile some more compost/topsoil here first.
Last year's potato bed should be OK for onions in terms of fertility since they primarily need N don't you think? I had some voles, mice, or chipmunk digging into some of the potatoes, but they won't go after the onions, right? At least that's what I'm hoping....
Last year's potato bed should be OK for onions in terms of fertility since they primarily need N don't you think? I had some voles, mice, or chipmunk digging into some of the potatoes, but they won't go after the onions, right? At least that's what I'm hoping....
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Steve,
I have Guardsman and Red beard for my bunching / salad onion. Pacific Pearl is my fifth and final variety. Theses three will be planted closer together and probably on the borders / edges.
Apple,
My soil is a wet heavy soil. I have the blue clay subsoil. All my raised rows are at least 6" above native soil.
The fertilizers I use are, Hydrolyzed fish 2-5-1, Compost tea, and Hendrikus complete 6-4-4.
Last year when I harvested my Rose Finn Apple potatoes, I found a lot of them in pockets. Some rodent was collecting. Almost every little spud had teeth marks.
Sheila,
Yes, I take a open flat with a single layer of paper in the bottom. Fill it to the top with 50/50 peat and perlite. Broadcast the seeds over the top and a dusting to cover. Next year will be 50/50 coir and perlite.
Eric
I have Guardsman and Red beard for my bunching / salad onion. Pacific Pearl is my fifth and final variety. Theses three will be planted closer together and probably on the borders / edges.
Apple,
My soil is a wet heavy soil. I have the blue clay subsoil. All my raised rows are at least 6" above native soil.
The fertilizers I use are, Hydrolyzed fish 2-5-1, Compost tea, and Hendrikus complete 6-4-4.
Last year when I harvested my Rose Finn Apple potatoes, I found a lot of them in pockets. Some rodent was collecting. Almost every little spud had teeth marks.
Sheila,
Yes, I take a open flat with a single layer of paper in the bottom. Fill it to the top with 50/50 peat and perlite. Broadcast the seeds over the top and a dusting to cover. Next year will be 50/50 coir and perlite.
Eric
Wouldn't you know it, the year I don't start onions indoors is the year everyone decides to make a thread about it .
Your onions look great everyone! I bought some plants this year and I planted a bundle in a new bed I made, but it will be an experiment since the bed only gets part sun.
I plant 4 in. apart as well. I think that this will allow them to reach a large size since I will be harvesting them intermittently as they grow.
Oh, to the the poster who asked, spreading all of the seeds in a flat is not the only method. Commercial producers us 100+ cell plug trays.
Your onions look great everyone! I bought some plants this year and I planted a bundle in a new bed I made, but it will be an experiment since the bed only gets part sun.
I plant 4 in. apart as well. I think that this will allow them to reach a large size since I will be harvesting them intermittently as they grow.
Oh, to the the poster who asked, spreading all of the seeds in a flat is not the only method. Commercial producers us 100+ cell plug trays.
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July 20th 2011
Not sure if these will catch up with Dono's pile of onions, but they are looking pretty good.
Copra storage onion.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20%20%20Garden%20Vegetables/OnionsandTomatoesJuly20th2011002.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20%20%20Garden%20Vegetables/OnionsandTomatoesJuly20th2011003.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20%20%20Garden%20Vegetables/OnionsandTomatoesJuly20th2011001.jpg[/img]
Eric
Not sure if these will catch up with Dono's pile of onions, but they are looking pretty good.
Copra storage onion.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20%20%20Garden%20Vegetables/OnionsandTomatoesJuly20th2011002.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20%20%20Garden%20Vegetables/OnionsandTomatoesJuly20th2011003.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20%20%20Garden%20Vegetables/OnionsandTomatoesJuly20th2011001.jpg[/img]
Eric
Last edited by DoubleDogFarm on Sun Jan 13, 2013 7:54 am, edited 3 times in total.
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Sept. 9th Copra onions.
I started my harvesting today and will finish tomorrow. These will need a little more drying before storage.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20%20%20Vegetables%20and%20%20Fruits/CopraOnionsSept9th2011004.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20%20%20Vegetables%20and%20%20Fruits/CopraOnionsSept9th2011006.jpg[/img]
Eric
I started my harvesting today and will finish tomorrow. These will need a little more drying before storage.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20%20%20Vegetables%20and%20%20Fruits/CopraOnionsSept9th2011004.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20%20%20Vegetables%20and%20%20Fruits/CopraOnionsSept9th2011006.jpg[/img]
Eric
Last edited by DoubleDogFarm on Sun Jan 13, 2013 7:56 am, edited 3 times in total.
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I've had good luck storing them 6 months or more.How long do these onions store for?
This is what Johnny's Select seed had to say,
EricUniform, "rock-hard" storage onion with early maturity. These medium-sized, dark yellow-skinned storage onions have the preferred blocky round shape with thin necks that dry quickly. Firmness and skin are superior. Copra remains one of the absolute best in our yearly storage trials, staying firm and flavorful after most other varieties have sprouted. Highest in sugar (13°-14°) of the storage onions. Adaptation: 38°-55° latitude.
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Update on my Copra onions.
Today is Jan 31 2012. I have about 10 gallons of onions in storage. Storage They are still in the five gallon buckets. It's been about 4 months and they are still rock solid. I really should be taking better care of these.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20%20%20Vegetables%20and%20%20Fruits/Copraonions-1.jpg[/img]
Eric
Today is Jan 31 2012. I have about 10 gallons of onions in storage. Storage They are still in the five gallon buckets. It's been about 4 months and they are still rock solid. I really should be taking better care of these.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20%20%20Vegetables%20and%20%20Fruits/Copraonions-1.jpg[/img]
Eric