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Onions, Onions, Onions

February 25th, 2016

I love growing onions, of all colors, shapes, and sizes. I love starting my onions from seed. I love, love, love eating onions.
starting onion seeds 5
onion braids 1
Onion Harvest 2
onions (1)
planning for onions all year long 2
Each year I grow loads of onions, loads. Generally I harvest around 200 lbs of onions to eat throughout the year. That number doesn’t include green onions and leeks. We eat an AMAZING amount of onions. Many years ago, I decided to start growing them from seed myself, both because it saved me money and because you can find so many interesting varieties. In my experience, starting them from seeds makes them store longer. This past week I started 3 flats of onion seeds, I still have 3 more to get going this week. Onions are probably one of my most favorite crops to grow.

Do you grow onions? Have you started them from seed?

5 Comments to “Onions, Onions, Onions”
  1. Nebraska Dave on February 25, 2016 at 9:41 am

    Susy, yes, I grow onions from seed. In fact I have some that are about the same height as yours. I do not require any where near 200 pounds of onions. My goodness you must have one healthy household. Onions, garlic, and other plants in that class are virus killers and are supposed to keep virus, bacteria, and germs at bay. I do it more for the challenge than a Winter storage harvest. My storage area is about 55 degrees during the Winter and I’m finding that potatoes and onions need a little cooler storage than middle 50s. This year I think I’ll try to find a spot in the garage to store them. It’s gets down to upper 30s and 40s during the cold Winter.

    Have a great onion seed starting day.

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  2. Sara on February 25, 2016 at 10:05 am

    I love growing onions too, though I only grow about half what you do! I’m excited this year–I haven’t had to buy any yet this winter and we still have quite a few in storage. My usual goal is to have enough to last until I plant the next season’s crop, but this year I may make it all the way until we have fresh chives :)

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  3. Jill on February 25, 2016 at 11:49 am

    I love onions, too, Susy. I attempted to grow them from seed last year but did not get beyond the sprout stage. I need to try harder this year. I would love to have my winter’s supply of onions stored, but I end up with just a pail full in the fall that is quickly used up. Must do better with starting them this year!

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  4. whit on February 27, 2016 at 2:16 pm

    Are you seeding them in soil blocks too? Do you find it easier to seed four or five seeds together, then they are in a clump all ready for planting out for the season?

    I seed onions and every year I learn something new. I don’t seem to have as much success, and therefore no storage onions for winter, but hoping one day to. Each year, the soil gets a little lighter, a little more nutritious. :)

    Reply to whit's comment

    • Susy on February 28, 2016 at 9:08 am

      I do seed them soil blocks, usually I plant 4-6 seeds in each block and I plant them out in groups with about a foot in between each bunch. I find they are much easier to weed that way and the onions don’t suffer in size at all. Here’s a short article I did on my planting methods for onions: /2015/05/11/planting-onions/

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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