4/15/2023 0 Comments Onion seedlings![]() The normal gardencenter may offer Yellow and White Sweet Spanish (long-day varieties), Yellow and White Bermuda (short-day varieties and a red variety that may or may not be named ( Southport Red Globe, perhaps a long-day variety). Long-day types may not get the bulbing signal in the Deep South and so should be avoided there. Short-day varieties may perform acceptably in the North if the plants can be set out very early in the season. Long-day onions are bred for best performance in the North and short-day varieties perform best in southern locations. Gardeners should try to match varieties to their location. Most gardeners prefer white sets for green onions, although red or yellow sets are also acceptable. Round onion sets produce flat onions elongated or torpedo-shaped sets mature into round onions. The small sets (smaller than a dime in diameter) produce the best bulbs for large, dry onions and they usually do not "bolt." Extremely cold weather during early season growth also may condition onions from sets to flower. If allowed to grow, these sets may "bolt" and form flower stalks. Large sets (larger than a dime in diameter) are best used for green onions. Divide the sets into two sizes before planting. Store sets in a cool, dry, dark environment if planting must be delayed after purchase. Purchase firm, dormant sets early - before they begin growth in heated salesrooms. ![]() Yellow sets are sometimes sold as the varieties Ebenezer or Stuttgarter. The home gardener has little choice of varieties at the store, however, because sets are seldom sold under varietal names, merely by color: yellow, white or red. All of these varieties are widely adaptable. Several varieties are used for onion sets. Transplants are purchased in bundles (usually 60 to 80 plants) from garden stores and through seed and nursery catalogs (though mail-order onion plants often cost as much as buying the 60 to 80 full-size mature bulbs they may produce). Transplanting young onion seedlings is the method of growing that most regularly produces large, dry, attractive onions for slicing (as shown in catalog pictures). Onion sets may be used to produce both green onions and dry onion bulbs, though production of really premium dry onions requires methods described in the following section. The plants are quickly established and become vigorous and strong. Growing green onions from sets is probably the simplest method for the home gardener. They are used in soups and stews and combination with vegetables and meats. Onions may be eaten raw, broiled, boiled, baked, creamed, steamed, fried, french fried and pickled. Timely shallow hoeing and cultivation are important, especially when the onions are small. Onions have shallow roots and compete poorly with weeds and grasses. High temperatures and low humidity are advantageous during bulbing and curing. Late plantings of the suggested varieties also result in small bulbs or lack of bulbing altogether in any location. For this reason, onion varieties that are grown in the South are not adaptable to the North and vice versa. In general, most common varieties fall into one of two classes, long-day (for northern latitudes) and short-day (for southern latitudes). Onions start bulb formation when the day length is of the proper duration and different varieties of onions require different day lengths to initiate bulbing. Onions may be grown from sets, transplants or seeds. Onion is a cool-season vegetable that can be grown successfully throughout most of temperate North America.
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