Starting onions

[countrywife]

ok, instead of bulbs, I got seeds. Can this be direct sown or do I have to start them in pots? I am in Zone 8, so things are going in the ground now. Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[digitS']

You are in a much warmer place than I am, Country.

I don't care much about direct-seeding onions in my garden because of chickweed . . . it likes to grow in the same place I like to plant my onions. Unfortunately, they aren't good neighbors.

I have grown them and shallots this way and will plant shallot seed in the garden, soon.

If you don't have a weed problem, prepare the garden soil carefully and sow the seed. Onions appreciate a fertile soil and a carefully raked seed bed. The seeds are sown very shallow so keeping the surface moist helps with germination.

If you are cultivating immediately before sowing, you may want to press the soil down some with a board. It isn't quite as important as with some small seed since onions germinate quickly but if the soil is too loose, the seed may dry out easily.

Otherwise, onions are fairly easy.

Steve