We have had some really frigid temperatures since I planted my onion seed on January 15th. My blog says I planted on the 16th, but it lies. Never trust a blog where you can schedule your posts for another day and the blogger is going on vacation.
Anyway I digress. Our temperatures have been frigid and my poor little twelve-packs have been pressed against the window pane shivering. I don't like to get up on cold days either. I stay under my warm covers and hope it will get warmer. However a few hardy souls popped up on the 22nd. Slowly over time more have been emerging. Yesterday I moved the ones near the window, that had very spotty germination to the back row, where most of the seeds are already up. In the above photo the ones that were in the back are to the right and the ones that shivered are to the left.I'm hoping now that they have moved around the other packs will germinate.
Yesterday I planted my leeks and decided to forego the freezing window in favor of behind my computer monitor. The heat comes up there and it is much warmer. I'm thinking their germination will be quicker. Even cool season crops like lettuce and alliums prefer to germinate in the mid 70°Fs. It isn't worth bringing out my heating mat for them, but I will do that in March when the first warm weather crops get seeded (chili peppers).
How exciting to see the first signs of the spring garden to come. I planted mine on Jan 21st and have been impatiently watching them daily. When do you plant your onions out, as soon as the ground can be worked or after the last frost?
ReplyDeleteI have read to do both. I am not sure if I should put mine in the coldframe in april or in the ground.
Well I'm planting them as soon as the ground can be worked, which for me is the middle to end of March. In the past I planted them in early April (our last frost is May 1st). Just know they won't grow much until the temps get into the middle 50s. I'll row cover them for a little while to keep the temperatures up and I won't mulch until the ground is a bit warmer. Now I've never planted my onions as early as I'm going to this year, weather permitting, but I think it will work out.
ReplyDeleteI am starting early this year because I am trying to grow massive onions. Not that I want a prize or anything, maybe it is a man thing.
ReplyDeleteOur last frost is May 24th as a rule and the ground thaws in the first half of April. I'm thinking that I will plant half out, keep the other half in the coldframe and see what ones turn out best.
Thanks for the info!
Good luck with those onions. I'm guessing the cold frame ones will be nice and big. I wish I had a cold frame for my early onions.
ReplyDeleteHi Daphne, good deal on the onions. Mine are still sadly in the ground from last year, the ground is frozen or I would pull them out. I am not growing them again, but would like to grow asparagus. They have some now at the big box stores, roots it looks like. Any suggestions? Is now the time to put them in the ground, when it thaws, I mean?
ReplyDeleteFrances
Looks like your little onions are happy so far. I just bought onion sets, and put them in the garden yesterday. As long as they are protected from frost, I think they'll be fine. I can't wait to see your other stuff germinating later...
ReplyDeleteEG
Frances, I've never grown asparagus. I've wanted to in the past and read enough about it, but never done it myself. People usually suggest to dig a trench 8" deep, 10" wide. Plant each one about 12" apart. Spread the roots out in the trench and cover with a couple of inches of soil. Wait until the plants grow out of the soil a few inches. Cover with a few more inches making sure to leave the tips exposed. Keep it up until you have a short mound. It's kinda like potatoes. Don't harvest at all the first year. The second year, I've found that people disagree. Some say harvest, some say harvest but just a little, some say don't harvest anything until the third year. Personally I'd be impatient. And I'll reiterate, I've read enough about it, but have never done it myself.
ReplyDeleteEG, They are indeed. I'll see how it goes in a few weeks. Hopefully they will all be up soon.
It's still a week or so before I'll start my onions and leeks under lights in the basement. My frost free date isn't until mid May. But my, their lively green is a sight for sore eyes!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI've started winter sowing outdoors here in Zone 7 (North Carolina) and my mesclun is already coming up. It's very exciting and a new way to sow. I've posted info on my blog at kirbyplant.blogspot.com I was totally amazed that after ten days since planting the little green sprouts appeared. I have some onion seeds so I think I will try them with winter sowing. Will let you know what happens. Good luck to you.
Hi Daphne, I'm glad to see your onions seeds are up. I thought I had sown mine to early (19th Jan)but they are up and growing well. I grew onion sets last year and they weren't very big, so I am trying the seeds this year
ReplyDeletedeborah, it was probably too early for me too, but I'm throwing caution to the wind and doing them anyway.
ReplyDeleteEllen, those would probably be great for winter sowing. Good luck to you too.
maureen, I've never grown onions from sets before, so can't tell you personally, but everyone else says they are better from seed. I hope so since it is more work.
Leeks on the monitor? You are a real garden blogger. I have wintersown leeks this year. We'll see how it goes.
ReplyDelete