Posted on 02/21/2014 12:13:29 PM PST by greeneyes
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Moved all the plants to outside greenhouse. Now, the grow lamp is ready for more little cups of seeds. I have so many, the task looks daunting. First thing to do is make stick signs so I know what is planted in these cups. I’ve got all the seed envelopes and signs and pen in my chair so I’ll be making signs for a while.
Why didn’t one of you tell me to plant just a “few” types of seeds instead of planting enough types to fill the Dallas Cowboys football field?
/johnny
Oh, dear, finished the signs and there is 18 of them and that means 18 cups to plant and giggle around under the grow lamp.
Then there is the bag of 80, yes, 80, Stuttgarter onion bulbs I got for $1.68 cents at Walmart. Please answer this question about onion bulbs - do they have a short spread out root system or a deep root system? I need to know that so I can know how much soil they need to grow. I’m going to use the cheap 5 gallon plastic grow bags for all these onions. So, tell me how deep the soil needs to be. I know to plant them one inch deep but how much more soil do I need in there??
I've been out in my little greenhouse. It was pushing 102 witht the vent window open..sheesh. I opened the door, and stuck a box fan in there..
I am glad you are so motivated with all your seeds. I need to plant more, and finish moving dixie cup babies in to bigger pots.
That 102 degree temp reminded me of July..At least complaining about the temps..too cold..too hot..gives me something to gripe about besides politicians.
Do you know about onion roots? Whether they are long or short and spread out? How deep should the soil be under them?
** Do you know about onion roots?**
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/contain/msg0205421419186.html
What I learned about onions today from that link I just posted...”Mine look pathetic”
/johnny
Okay, I see others didn’t know how deep to plant them. I’ll go between 7-8 inches in those cheap plastic grow bags and that should do it for these onion bulbs.
Those onions that guy grew are awesome.
The onion roots themselves are usually not more than 4” long. If you are planting sets (looks like the onion bulb but less than 1” across), and you want big round onions for slicing, then you just depress the set into the soil but leave the top exposed. If you want spring onion or scallion type, then press the set into the soil about 2”. If onions are too deep, they will not make big round onions. Round Slicing Onions grown commercially are half in and half out of the ground, in fact they make a special tool to pull soil away from the onion. Also, know that onions love nitrogen.
Johnny, are you digging in your scrap pile for your howitzer before you photograph the rebel tobacco this week?
I've been busy as a one armed paper hanger. Maybe I'll get some photos posted tomorrow.
/johnny
Thanks so much for explaining how onions grow. The bag of 80 onions are bulbs less than one inch across but I see some that might be one inch.
Going by the depths you said, I can make some of these onions spring onions or scallions by putting them 2 inches down, and make some be slicing onions by leaving the top exposed.
I’ve got onions up from seed and those looks like spring onions right now and I need to put them in their final containers. When I plant those in containers, can I also plant some barely covered and some two inches deep or do these have to stay spring onions? I’m so glad to have your information.
Okay, people, I am gong to move the tomatoes that are outside in the greenhouse into permanent containers on the deck. Now, I didn’t plant them right last year, screwed up, didn’t plant the stalk of the plant deep into the soil. DO I UNDERSTAND THIS RIGHT? That I’m supposed to bury the stalk and leaves into the soil and leave about two inches of stalk/leaves above ground?
/johnny
Hi greeneyes and everyone!
Our computer went blotto for the better part of 2 weeks! Good to see everyone again!
The yellow grocery store onion I mentioned recently that was sprouting and growing in a pot was in a place that is difficult to get to, so even tho it seemed to be doing ok. I had not realized how very thirsty it was getting. It dried up, and died, and then the gnat-like critters set in on it.
I had a soap insect treatment for potted plants, and used that, and got rid of the poor little dried out thing. Hmmm. another lesson learned. Just in time for another onion in my basket to start sprouting! It is in its pot and going great guns, WITH adequate hydration this time! LOL!
We had another one of the sweet potato offspring start sprouting as well, so now we have 5 of them. The vines are going everywhere, and we’re very eager to learn when our frost date is so we can take them outside!
One tiny little shoot of green walking onion which I planted last spring in a large outdoor pot has made an appearance. A family member was visiting several days ago, and we were talking about edible landscaping. I had a few more Egyptian walking onion bulbs left and gave her a start of them. One of the bags of walking onions I still have left started a sprout! QUESTION: do I put it in a pot right away, and wait to take it out after freeze, or put it in a pot and let nature takes its course outside, or let it stay in its little bag until I take them out to plant?
The elms are starting to bud out, as is the wisteria.
I noticed that the parsley which I was experimenting with to see if it would overwinter in this particular place, actually shows some green. I don’t know if it’s new green or residual green, but I’ve got my eye on it with lots of hope that maybe it really DID overwinter!
Went through some catalogs and finally settled on some seeds to order.
I have not had time to begin tomatoes or any of that, so at least I have a better idea what to expect this year! I’ll just rely on my “round tuit” to kick in pretty soon! The better weather is quite the inspiration!
I do not know what seed variety you planted (some are ONLY spring onion), but you should be able to plant them at the different depths to get both kinds of onions.
And you are welcome. My farming/gardening career has been good to me, I love helping other people enjoy their gardening experience and to be more self-sufficient.
Yes Ma’am. Bury that tomato plant up to its neck.
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