Onion Planting Time?

[randy41]

you need an intermediate or short day.

 

[Western]

2lc, here is the TAMU website with Texas recommended variety's and information.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable/files/2010/10/E-514_onions.pdf

 

[DennisArrow]

Gotta really thank you for pointing out about the Dixondale outfit.

Dixondale Farms, Onion Plants Since 1913 - Onion Plants

Went to the website and then called......Prompt, courteous, knowlegeable, and downright friendly. Ordered several kinds of bunches for short day and intermediate growing hours that will get me finally the onions I have been trying to grow. The local feed store guys get what THEY think is right and obviously after many tries for years they don't bring in stuff that is worth a hoot.....My order will be mailed on the 3rd so just in time to get a good early start.....THANKS for the information guys..........God bless.........Denni

 

[sixdogs]

Gotta really thank you for pointing out about the Dixondale outfit.

Dixondale Farms, Onion Plants Since 1913 - Onion Plants

Went to the website and then called......Prompt, courteous, knowlegeable, and downright friendly. Ordered several kinds of bunches for short day and intermediate growing hours that will get me finally the onions I have been trying to grow. The local feed store guys get what THEY think is right and obviously after many tries for years they don't bring in stuff that is worth a hoot.....My order will be mailed on the 3rd so just in time to get a good early start.....THANKS for the information guys..........God bless.........Denni

That's fine so now you're part way home.

You need to break up--fracture-- the ground down to as deep as you can with 10" or 12" preferable. Do what you can. You also need to learn the fertilizer needed for onions. It's more that to just say add N (nitrogen) when I think that's only part of the issue. You could look at what onion growers sell for fertilizer and then replicate as close as you can with local fertilizer. It's the ratio of N-P-K that matters.
And don't forget the weed control or this will be a one-year exercise of fun followed by progressively worse years of not fun.

Onions are easy after the learning curve detailed above but you should do fine. Please post photos of your success and we can all benefit.

Oh, those plants from Dixondale will look puny but take heed since every one I ever planted grew perfectly. Get your soil work done NOW so you ave a good seedbed ready when the time comes. You can't have the plants in hand and then start. You need time for a smooth seedbed to get prepped.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

dont plant here till may, ground is frozen and white right now.

 

[sixdogs]

One other point. Plant deeper than instructions will advise or they could blow out of the ground before they get rooted. We used to dig a small trench a couple inches deep and plant the onion in it with dirt hilled up on the outside of the trench as a windbreak.

Advice here is to broadcast fertilizer but I would suggest "banding" it on both sides of the plant. Broadcast fertilizes weeds outside the row while banding just the onion. Be careful with too much fertilizer until plants are big enough to handle it.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

you need an intermediate or short day.

I guess I'm confused. REALLY confused. I thought the Texas 10-15's were short day and that's why I only get the golfball sized onions. We're not Key West Florida, but OKC should have longer days than, say, Maine.

 

[radioman]

One trick I use here in northeast I plant double rows of onions spaced about 3-6 inches apart. Onions really dont take up much space and thinning one side to eat and leave rest growing helps for fall crop.

 

[randy41]

I guess I'm confused. REALLY confused. I thought the Texas 10-15's were short day and that's why I only get the golfball sized onions. We're not Key West Florida, but OKC should have longer days than, say, Maine.

so 2lc you've heard of the land of the midnight sun? in summer the days are longer in the north.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

so 2lc you've heard of the land of the midnight sun? in summer the days are longer in the north.

:ashamed: Garsh, fellers. I shoulda knowed that. I had it all bassackards.