|
Thu, Sep 18, 14 at 10:40
| I live in zone 5, Massachusetts. I usually start long day onions from seed indoors in February, but I never get the size bulbs I would like. So, as an experiment, I've direct seeded some short day onions now, in mid September. Our first frost date is already past, nights are about 45 days are in the 70s. We may get frost tonight. Our ground freezes hard by late December, and thaws in March, but I will mulch with leaves and grass clippings. What do you think will happen? Will they go dormant and grow in spring or will they be too immature to make it through winter? |
Follow-Up Postings:
|
| Feb is kind of late to start indoor in zone 5. I usually start in Dec - they have enough time to grow. Not sure about direct sowing - never tried |
|
| Never tried it either, but it sounds like an interesting idea. |
|
| It may work, but many of the short day onions respond to cold winters by developing flower buds (bolting). This is not true of the "new" overwintering onions from Japan, which are super cold-hardy short-day onions. I direct sow them in August, and install a row cover tunnel in November. The ground still freezes, but they have protection from ice and snow. The plants put on lots of growth in March, when it's still cold, and bulb in early June for me. Farther north they bulb even earlier, in May. I've tried several varieties -- Bridger, Desert Sunrise, Top Keeper, and this year Gate Keeper. All good, no dogs among them. |
Here is a link that might be useful: New Hampshire overwintering onion trial
|
| you can buy overwintering onions. Look at Keepsake onions on the Territorial website. I used them two years ago with very good results, and I have about 100 seedlings in pots around the garden (they did not have them for sale last year). They overwinter in Michigan with cover (hoop house) and are ready in May. |
|
| Wow, that is a great link and information! I direct seeded, because the ground is still 65 degrees. If I don't see sprouts in few days, i may start them inside and put them out. I will be using the row cover. I was not expecting to hear that a Spring harvest would be possible! That would be great. I was just hoping for larger bulbs in Fall. But if this method works I can start some inside in the winter also for a Spring plant out and get in two crops a year! |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Vegetable Gardening Forum
Information about Posting
- You must be logged in to post a message. Once you are logged in, a posting window will appear at the bottom of the messages. If you are not a member, please register for an account.
- Please review our Rules of Play before posting.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review your post, make changes and upload photos.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- Before posting copyrighted material, please read about Copyright and Fair Use.
- We have a strict no-advertising policy!
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.
Learn more about in-text links on this page here
