Onions -- Growing from Seed

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Danoost
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Grow your onions and shallots from seed and not from sets (small onion bulbs). I can think of at least four reasons why:

1) with seed you know exactly which variety you're getting
2) seeds are cheaper
3) seeds are no more difficult to start than sets
4) seeds, in my experience, yield larger and healthier onions
jack oostenbrink
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5) you know what went into the plant from the beginning...chances are that set was grown commercial style
James2022
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That's helpful info, Sets I gave up on last year, They went into seed head production, I will stick to starting all onions from seeds this year :). What date do you suggest starting onions from seed for zone 7
Danoost
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When to start onions from seed?

I've grown nice baseball size onions seeding them directly into the garden in early April. I seed them around 2 inches apart and then thin them at 6 inches in rows that are around 10 inches apart. The thinned onions should be saved and transplanted.

If you want huge onions start them indoors in early February and transplant them in early April.

But remember, getting big healthy onions has more to do with soil fertility, moisture and temperature than it has to do with timing. Often starting them later when the conditions are more favorable gives better results.

My favorite onion varieties are:

Hamilton (storage yellow)
Patterson (storage yellow)
Rosa di Milano (storage red)
Candy (sweet)
James2022
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Sound good thanks!
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