Onions???

Ok I went in to get some green onion seed at the garden store but they have sent this years back and will not received the next batch for at least a month... I have 4 packs are regular onion seed that are really getting old. Is there any reason why I can't use them for green onions instead. They won't set a bulb if I plant them this time of year so really they will just be a green onion right? I have no reason to order just a pack of seeds from a online company because the shipping will be more then the seeds.

I am going to try it and let you know.

I have been told by someone who should know these things (digitS'), that onion seed has a very short shelf life. So if you don't get much, that's probably why.

This is very true, I planted very heavy because my seeds were well over a year old. This is why I went in yesterday to buy some new seed because I didn't have anything really fresh. I planted 3 different types and all very heavy so hopefully I will get some green onions to use. After the new seeds come out I will plant them. I am hoping to get some from these because I planted red, white and yellow onions, so I could get some really good flavors. I literally planted 3 packs of over 1/2 pack each in an area of about 1' x 4'. Even if I only get 10-20% germination which is very likely I still should have enough for the fall.

'Dorie, I have never planted an onion seed in Georgia. Vidalia??

If I sow seed for the variety grown about 200 miles south of here (Walla Walla), they have about a 2 out of 3 chance of bolting when warm weather arrives in the Spring! They go into winter at fairly small size from a late August sowing. That's the time Cooperative Extension told me to get seed in the ground.

I have to start onion seed in the greenhouse, in February to be assured of nice bulbs and scallions in July and August (and continuing).

Some of those winter seeds are for bunching onions. Some of the late Spring scallions are from sets. However! Sweet onions are my favorites as green tiny scallions or big, mature bulbs and everything in between.

Steve
who always seems to have some old seed in February but gets good germination. the authorities all say "1 year" viability.

HunkieDorie23 said:

Ok I went in to get some green onion seed at the garden store but they have sent this years back and will not received the next batch for at least a month... I have 4 packs are regular onion seed that are really getting old. Is there any reason why I can't use them for green onions instead. They won't set a bulb if I plant them this time of year so really they will just be a green onion right? I have no reason to order just a pack of seeds from a online company because the shipping will be more then the seeds.

I am going to try it and let you know.

Click to expand...

If you want the seed just spend the couple extra dollars and order them. Why do without? Just remember for next year.

FedCo still has a lot of varieties listed on their site. their shipping is $5 for orders under $30, over $30 is free s/h. http://www.fedcoseeds.com/seeds/?cat=Onions and Leeks

Bakers Creek is good for flat rate shipping no matter the size of the order. i got my seeds in about 3 days from them last time i ordered.

I had watched a YouTube vid where the lady had planted onion seeds in her garden in the fall and had a huge crop of onions in the spring, but now I cannot find that vid, wouldn't you know it.

Is that even possible? I'd like to try it if that is possible...plant the seeds in the fall for an earlier growth schedule in the spring.

Perhaps in your climate you can.

I just put onion seeds in flats in my greenhouse. The directions said 8 weeks before last frost. I did that once and they were so puny they did not survive transplant. It said you can trim back the greens to keep them a short height. So this is an experiment.I am hoping to get the plant size of the expensive plants that I buy in the spring. I had the best onions ever this year. I got the huge ones I have been dreaming of.The plants were covered with some kind of green chemical when I got them. Not exactly the organic onions that I have been deluding myself that I have been growing. Time will tell.

I'd like to try it...onion seeds can't cost much, can they? I'm planting potatoes this fall also, to come up in the spring.

I'm also thinking of planting my tomato seeds this fall as well, so they can sprout in the spring right where they need to be, just like volunteer tomatoes do. I read one guy's blog where he did just that and it worked.

I laid down most of my tomato vines~with green tomatoes and half ripened ones still intact~when cleaning up the garden and will cover them over with the wood chips. I also saved some maters for seed and will plant the seeds this fall right where I want the plant, just to see if it can happen. I'll also start seedlings inside as per usual, to have as a back up.

I just like experimenting with the capabilities, but can find minimal information where that may have been done in my zone.