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There are some key differences between planting onions from seeds versus sets. First, we need to make sure we understand the meaning of an onion set. Onion sets are plants that were started from seeds – normally in the middle of summer to fall. The onion grows to the size of a small bulb and is then pulled out of the ground.
Onion transplants, on the other hand, are onion seedlings started in the current growing season. You can purchase onion transplants from a plant nursery in Topeka, KS and plant them in your garden at home to yield larger bulbs than you would receive from sets.
Round sets will produce a flattened onion, and tear shaped or elongated sets will produce round onions. Larger sets are best used as green onions while smaller sets are left in the ground to form bulbs. For large, firm bulbs, plants are best. They were produced from seed in the year they were sold. Generally plants come in a bundle.
Onions Sets. Sets are small, dry onion bulbs that have been grown the previous year. They are the easiest for many gardeners to grow. Buy a bag of sets, push them into damp soil until just the top is showing and the onion quickly starts growing.
What are the different types of onions?
There are numerous varieties of onions—such as red, white and yellow —that grow to many sizes and can be used for different purposes. If you are new to onion planting, it’s crucial that you understand the different ways onions can be planted and when planting should begin.
The onion growing process. The first thing to note about planting onions is that they grow over the course of two years. In the first season, onions will grow from a seed to a plant and then a dormant bulb. After a period of cold temperatures, onion bulbs will grow and flower in the second season.
Onion sets are different—these are small bulbs harvested prematurely from the first year of an onion’s life cycle and stored through winter . Sets are easy to find and plant, but typically yield smaller onions and are more often used to produce green onions than larger bulb onions.
Because sets are in the second year of the onion’s life cycle, they are more likely to bolt, or grow a flower from the center of the bulb. Onion transplants, on the other hand, are onion seedlings started in the current growing season.
What is a set of onions?
Sets are small, dry onion bulbs that have been grown the previous year. They are the easiest for many gardeners to grow. Buy a bag of sets, push them into damp soil until just the top is showing and the onion quickly starts growing. They are frequently sold only as yellow, white or red onions without a variety name.
Onion Plants. Onions are cool-season vegetables that are grown mainly for the flavor they add to other foods. In areas where freezing temperatures are rare, they are grown as a winter crop, while in other areas they can be planted in the spring. Onions (Allium cepa) begin to form bulbs based on day length. Growing in zones 5 to 10, onions can be …
For large, firm bulbs, plants are best. They were produced from seed in the year they were sold. Generally plants come in a bundle. Dig a shallow trench, and lay the onion plants against one side of the trench about an inch deep and four inches apart. Cover with soil and irrigate.
Day length is the most important factor in selecting varieties. Long day length onions grow north of a line approximately from Washington, DC. to San Francisco, short day length south of that line and intermediate day length for several miles on either side of the line. Flavor and pungency are other factors in selecting varieties.
When an onion sends up a flower stalk, it is called bolting. Temperature is the trigger for bolting. If the onion is exposed to warm temperature, then cold, then warm again, it will bolt. When it bolts, the onion bulb will be smaller and will have a flower stem through the middle of the bulb, which will reduce storage life. Because they were produced the previous year, sets are more likely to bolt.
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