Whats with onion sets.

 

Hi . Anyone care to explain how to grow onions from year to year.  I'm not
understanding how making onion sets gets you anywhere.  You either let then
grow and eat them or plant them late and make sets for next year. How do you
get  onions to reproduce. Without buying them over and over.  They don't
seed do they?

 

None4U wrote:

Yes they do.  Seed is a good way to grow your own onions.  You should choose
a cultivar that suits your latitude.

David

 



Yep.  They most definately set seed.  I had a store-bought onion
that sprouted.  Figured I'd plant it and see what happened.  Came
up with seeds (after the requisite flowers, of course.)

Back on March 2nd this year, I planted several of the seeds
wondering if they'd sprout and grow.  They all have and the
seedlings are now (I think) about 4-6" tall.  I will, however, have
to wait for several more weeks or months to see if they produce
actual onions, though.

~~BB

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None4U wrote:

   The onion sets are a convenience item, much like buying bedding plants.

  I think a problem with growing from seeds is differentiating the young
onion plants from weeds, setting out a set eases the weeding, or at
least the attempt at it.

  Also, since onions are biennial, if you didn't plant last year you
will have no big onions this year.

At least that's what I read when I put in my onions. I have no
experience with them (or much else for that matter!). I have this
feeling that there is a lot to growing onions. This from our "friends"
at Garden Web:

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/market/msg0118061413183.html

   Jeff

 



Please elaborate.  Do you mean I have to put onions in the ground in the
fall.  For next year.  And just today I found about 10 onions about 6 inches
tall growing in my moms  patch. . But  no onions were planted there in 3
years.