Gardening for Old Folks (Adaptative)

[Cebarmlds]

Happy New Year!

 

[jvls1942]

yup, happy new year. let's hope it gets better and better each day.

 

[sharron]

yup, happy new year. let's hope it gets better and better each day.

amen

 

[jvls1942]

My tractor came home today. all fixed up with oil pressure and a tachometer drive gear.
and a new front main oil seal.
gotta put the bucket and back blade back on and I am ready for snow. I hope we don't get any, but I am ready..
...jiminwisc.....

 

[Kusanar]

I am planning on starting my onions from seed using the overwintering method where you put the seeds in a plastic container of potting soil in early spring, put it outside with a cover with a few holes in it, keep an eye on it to keep it moist but not wet and then plant the babies outside when the ground is warm enough to work. This is supposed to have them start growing when conditions are right and you don't have to harden them off because they have been outside the whole time. Any one tried this? Any tips?

 

[jvls1942]

I never did it that way. Once I planted the seeds directly into the garden in a row. I had the best onions that year that I ever had.
the weeding was very tedious, especially when they first came up..
.......jiminwisc.........

 

[Molpet]

I plant onion plants I buy, I haven't found the variety as seeds. This kind keeps for a long time
https://www.dixondalefarms.com/product/copra/long_day_onions

 

[Kusanar]

I plant onion plants I buy, I haven't found the variety as seeds. This kind keeps for a long time
https://www.dixondalefarms.com/product/copra/long_day_onions

I'm going to be planting Sweet Spanish, but I really should have an intermediate day onion, so I'm not sure how well these long day ones will do, I'm hoping I am close enough to the long day boarder to be ok.

 

[jvls1942]

I was told that if you plant onion sets (bulbs), you will get green onions. If you want larger onions, you have to plant seeds or the green
sets that come in bunches.
.....jiminwisc.......

 

[Kusanar]

I was told that if you plant onion sets (bulbs), you will get green onions. If you want larger onions, you have to plant seeds or the green
sets that come in bunches.
.....jiminwisc.......

From my understanding (just research, no practical yet), sets are made by planting seeds, waiting a few months, then digging them and forcing them to go dormant. The issue with sets is that because they have already gone dormant, they are on their 2nd year and they will want to grow more top than bulb and then set seed. I assume this might be a good way to get seeds for a variety that you can only find in sets.

There is also a type of onion called bunching onions that actually grow in clumps and don't need extra space around them. I believe that these are actually scallions not onions but I'm not sure if there is a real difference other than shape (scallions being tall and pointy and onions being more round and flat)