Planting 500 Onions | My Tips for a Successful Harvest

Рет қаралды 15,522

2 ай бұрын

It's the first week in April here in Southeast Michigan - which means it's time to get our onions in the ground! We typically buy our onion starts every year from Dixondale farms: dixondalefarms.com/ We grow "long day" onions here in Michigan, and my choice for this year is Patterson, Red Zeppelin, and Walla Walla. I have nearly 500 onions to plant, but in this video we're only going to get the first bed done. After the first few it simply gets repetitive, so I'll share all my common tips for growing onions, fertilizing schedule, and everything else I can think up while we work through this first round of planting ♥ Here's the spacing tool I'm using to mark my lines: amzn.to/43Sg3Wa
Here's a summary of all the tips I shared in this video:
🧅Preparing Raised Beds: Clear the deep leaf mulch from raised beds before planting onions.
🧅Top Dressing with Compost: Use compost to enrich the soil before planting onions.
🧅Spacing and Planting: Space onions 4 inches apart in rows, using a tool for accuracy. Plant onion slips with their roots buried and soil packed around them.
🧅Growing Onions: Consider growing onions from starts rather than seeds for better success. Focus on staple crops for a reliable harvest.
🧅Fertilizing and Watering: Use compost and all-purpose fertilizer during planting. Later, fertilize every two weeks with diluted fish emulsion or an ammonia-based nitrogen fertilizer. Onions need 1-2 inches of water per week.
🧅Weeding and Pest Control: Keep the onion bed weed-free as onions dislike competition. Onions can repel pests, so plant them among other crops.
🧅Protecting from Birds: Birds may pluck newly planted onions, so monitor and replant if necessary until onions establish.
🧅Trimming and Soil Care: Trim onion tops before planting and consider "spooning" around onions as they grow to give bulbs space to develop.
🧅Taking Breaks: Gardening can be physically demanding; take breaks when needed.
🧅Enjoying Gardening: Gardening is exciting and rewarding; enjoy the process and the harvest.
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Пікірлер: 99

@Mikosun 2 ай бұрын

I tried growing onions last year from seed for the first time, about 40 of them, and got about 5. Then I did the research, feeding etc etc, watched all the KZfaq videos, including yours, and I planted 340 first year starts (3 varieties) of Short Day onions late October, (I live in Zone 8b) and last weekend I pulled the first variety and got 93/100! golfball to softball size, most being baseball! I am so excited! They are curing and then I will pull the last 2 varieties together. I have never been successful until this year! Thank you for sharing your knowledge! ♥

@Sam.Willis657 2 ай бұрын

Wow well done 93/100

@suewhalen3919 2 ай бұрын

It is so nice to see you back in the garden! Hard work, but wonderful.

@brianczuhai8909 2 ай бұрын

Just a simple thanks on the onion video. I got my Long Day sampler coming in as Walla Wala sweet, Red Wing, and RingMaster trio coming in this week from Texas Dixendale. They did wonderfully last year. Planting them all since I love planting onions. Yes, you can buy them in the store, but they are so much fun and EASY to grow. My only tip to you is stagger them 2" on alternate rows. And get $29/yd triple shredded wood chips. "In TOWN." That works good for the weeding and moisture control. But, thank you for sharing. We can compare notes.

@mariagarcia-po6kl 2 ай бұрын

Hi Rachel. Onion 🧅 are going to be sweet this year. Please be careful planting the garden. Take a break once in a while. It will save your back. Hope to see beans and lettuce 🥬 growing this year. God Bless you Rachel. HUGS 🤗 my friend. Mari'a. 🤗🤗❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍👋👋👋🌸🌺🌼🧅🧅🧅🥬🥬

@triciasklodowske5653 23 күн бұрын

You will love the Walla Walla's!!!! I from WA so had them alot. Need to order some. Thanks for sharing. God bless and protect.

@deborahrutherford5244 2 ай бұрын

I planted 23 more cabbages last Sunday before the rain came.

@JeanneKinland 2 ай бұрын

That's what I planted in my garden too. Patterson & Walla Walla (started from seed in my basement grow room). Last year I didn't plant enough, we ran out in January mostly because we used a lot of them in making salsa. I use Ammonia Sulfate from Hoss Tools. High Nitrogen until they start to bulb up. Heavy water!! That is exactly what I do (same as you described and we had great success.).

@leahgullion2196 2 ай бұрын

We plant 350 - 400 onion plants from dixondale farms every year. We were surprised to see how big the ones you were sent; the ones we get ( coming next week ) are like the smaller one you pointed out that won’t make a big onion. Well , they do. Our onions are huge when we harvest and dry in august. We have 12 left from that last harvest. Dixondale farms put out a post yesterday about cutting the tops of your onions off and they don’t recommend it, because it puts more energy into trying to grow the top back and not into the bulb . Also water , diseases and bugs get into the openings .

@heatherfisk9670 2 ай бұрын

I ordered from Dixondale farms last year for the first time and they did so well. I still start some from seed too and grow both. I like to cover all my bases. I took the little babies and planted them in bunches of three or so to use as green onions.

@user-lz5fi1um7s 2 ай бұрын

as a 40 yr gardner..I learn things every yr..last yr I threw some half danvers carrots into a previous patio bed container that I grew dwarf tomatoes in..added a little fertilizer and grew the biggest best carrots I have ever grown..who knew..I will never grow carrots in the ground again

@nicolesobol936 2 ай бұрын

Planted 500 carrot seeds this year with my 10 year old son. We are anxiously waiting on our order of onions from Dixon Dale farm!!!

@Shanngella 2 ай бұрын

I plant Pattersons too. They are my favorite. I plant 6in appart though. I grow them from seed. I keep mine in a basket in the living room all winter 😊

@laurielyon1892 2 ай бұрын

This was my 2nd year getting Patterson onions from Dixondale Farms. They really lasted over the winter. I also got some white ones from a store local to me. I planted 136 so I can only imagine how you will feel after planting that many!! But you are right, about the essentials, which is what I've really thought about when it comes to planting my garden this year. I don't plan on growing green beans this year because I still have a lot canned and I want to use them up first. I know I want cucumbers because I use them in my smoothies, and I made bread and butter pickles last year and found out I love them. I also have to grow cabbage because I use my pickled cabbage all the time. Tomatoes and peppers are a must also.

@ht6684 2 ай бұрын

And here I was excited to get my 150 in and done. lol Wow your hand really did get beat up on that fabric.

@islandgardener158 2 ай бұрын

I buy the seed packets in January, spread them evenly on the surface of a 6” pot, and lightly cover and water in 2 months they will be ready to plant. Not as thick as yours but plenty ready to grow, your babies are what mine look like. I get 4-5 inch bulbs

@theclimbinggrandma5354 2 ай бұрын

I bought the same onions and I’m planting this afternoon. Perfect timing for me with the video. I was hoping I could plant them closer.

@osok3121 2 ай бұрын

You can but you need to thin them eventually and use those as green onions

@UrbanWhiteBuffaloFarm 2 ай бұрын

Hey y’all, Ok uncle, I am giving up after 3 years of trying to start from seed. I broke down last night and ordered starts from Dixon Dale. Yellow, whites and reds so I think the price was very fair. There seem to be some Discount maybe for ordering this late in the year or something. So I’m always watching onion videos the old Alabama Gardner, deep South Homestead, lazy dog, farm, and yours. I do think I’m going to like growing from the starts especially since I can’t get them to go from seed to starts for some reason. so thank you for the video today. I did get some ideas. I am definitely going to use especially with the spacing. OK take care. See you next time.

@marking-time-gardens 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for sharing your great tips on growing onions... much appreciated! Blessings on your day Kiddos! 🌻🐛Carolyn in Ohio 🌿

@brianczuhai8909 2 ай бұрын

I also heard too, that sulfur increases the pungency and tearfulness of onions. If you're using synthetics, you could get double value by using Ammonium Sulfate fertilizers. I'm just shooting for huge and healthy myself.

@RachelRebel 2 ай бұрын

Perfect timing on this video! We're about to plant out our onion starts too. We built 4 more 4x4 raised beds specifically for brassicas and alliums! My husband is a plumber and brought me a brand new bathtub, I'm going to convert it into a potato bed haha Happy Growing Everyone!

@debster055 2 ай бұрын

Thank you, Rachael for all of the info on growing onions! I didn't know that you cut the tops off and spoon and how much fertilizer to give them! This year will b more successful for me now!!!

@elainehinton2860 2 ай бұрын

It’s been so wet here in southern Ohio, I haven’t gotten anything out yet. Hopefully soon! We are developing a new farm so fencing has taken priority over raised beds, but it’s on my to do list!

@robinlj5767 2 ай бұрын

Glad you’re growing again this year Rachel! Love your videos!!! Gardening and otherwise!❤

@Greens5511 2 ай бұрын

Wow. ...I think my soil is very similar to yours Rachel and I kid you not, I do not fertilize AT ALL! I don't use fertilizer in my garden at all ever. So if anyone out there thinks they don't want to do all that, at least give it a go without..... Rachel I bet u would b surprised how well ur garden could do without all those added fertilizers ....

@1870s 2 ай бұрын

If rather not chance it, doesn't cost much at all compared to a grocery bill to feed my soil life & plants

@TheHeartlandHomestead 2 ай бұрын

My husband and I just planted our onions on Tuesday! So nice to be outside gardening again!

@malva4838 2 ай бұрын

Could you put some little pinwheels in or around the beds to scare the birds away from them? Thanks for another great video! ❤

@Willow53663 2 ай бұрын

Wow ,your hands in beginning of video! I can definitely see why they hurt from the landscape fabric. Thats something with the birds coming in to make a mess of them, maybe a little shelter

@1957pattypat 2 ай бұрын

I saw your hands. I see they are healing and pray they are feeling much better. Your garden is really coming together and I can't wait to see it in all its glory. ❤

@jeneanegarwood7528 2 ай бұрын

Happy gardening to you as well!! Thanks for sharing your videos with us and giving great ideas, tips/tricks that make gardening easier and more productive.

@sharondore2792 2 ай бұрын

Wow, that’s a lot of onions. I never have luck growing them. Onion plants were the only way I could produce anything that even remotely could be called an onion. So just stick to the basic things I can grow and I depend on markets to get what I need. Rachel, I wanted to tell you that I loved your greenhouse set up over your heat vent for your seedlings. This week at ALDI they have your greenhouse in the flyer! I ran to get one! I also picked up 24 - 8oz packages of white button mushrooms for .99 each. I’ll be dehydrating them for future canning recipes this year. Love your channel. I’ve learned so much ( except the onion deal) lol I’m so glad you’re back to the garden, it was a long year for me!😊

@sheliaheverin8822 2 ай бұрын

You sound like me, I started planting and ended up planting in the spot I was going to use for green peppers....oops.......change of plans, move the peppers to where I was going to plant zucchini and wait until Fall to plant zucchini (not so much bug pressure). I get my starts from Dixondale, too. They are awesome.

@marymiller2183 2 ай бұрын

Hi Rachel! I planted a whole bed of onions an a couple days later they were pretty much all out of the ground. An I was blaming the birds for it but then I replanted an covered them with plant covers an same thing. Someone told me it's the worms. I planted them in plastic an they were not only out of the ground they were laying under the plastic 6 inches away from the original hole. I had more worms in my raisebeds this year then ever before. Was very happy about that but now I'm not so sure 😂😂😂

@cynthiafisher9907 2 ай бұрын

You might want to put up a camera to see what it is, I’ve never heard of worms doing that.

@aprild714 2 ай бұрын

I'm in Ohio and finally got my cool crops hardened off planting my cabbage, broccoli, onions and my beloved collards this Saturday. Hoping to get my celery in soon and carrots are finally sprouting. It's my 4th full garden year and really just now starting to feel like I know enough to get things get things growing, you learn with every year and always am amazed with what I learn

@cherylmoran5134 2 ай бұрын

I put a row cover over onions until they get established to avoid the bird issues

@suzannemartin1202 2 ай бұрын

I ended up planting 200! Double from last year, crazy. I love having my own onions stored away.

@candacebradley7335 2 ай бұрын

Rachel do you grow potatoes? I ended up buying onion sets I had rotator cuff surgery end of January and wasn’t able to start onion seeds. I live in Central Ohio. Just prepared my ground for planting my seed potatoes. I know what you mean on taking breaks in between planting I am 67yrs - I’d like to say years young but I’m not feeling it lately 🫤 Love your videos . Happy planting! 🫛🥦🫑🥬🥒

@1870s 2 ай бұрын

We just planted ours about 3-4 videos ago ♥

@JoyoftheGardenandHome 2 ай бұрын

That's a good book to write, Staples Garden. I'm amazed how tiny the roots are in starts.

@julie-annepineau4022 2 ай бұрын

Might want to try some tulle or mesh over the onions for a couple weeks so the birds don't mess with them until the roots get set. I am growing from seed but haven't counted yet, oops.

@janeimmens2731 2 ай бұрын

Always remember Rachel, you can get more in a crooked row than a straight row!🤣😂

@qismyfavoriteuncle9856 2 ай бұрын

My aunt always put powdered milk in her onion rows before planting 😀 she always had YUUUGE onions

@priayief 2 ай бұрын

Enjoyed your video. I've successfully grown onions for many years and I've found there are two that are great for long-term storage: Patterson and Redwing. Those Walla Wallas are great sweet onions but they don't store well. I admire your precision in planting your onions. I may have been like that when I started but now I'm just interested in getting the job done (and saving my back). Besides, when they start maturing, my crooked lines don't show up as well and the onions don't seem to mind at all. Adding compost before you plant is a great idea. Rather than laying my compost down at planting time, I put my mostly-finished compost on in the fall and then cover with leaves just like you. As for purchasing slips, I've found that I can grow my own inside with a small grow setup. The number of seedlings you can start in a limited space is remarkable. As well, you reminded me that it's time to start sowing my carrots. I had forgotten about them and I know that I live in a similar climate zone as you (except I'm in a semi-desert). I wish you good luck this season and I like that you're starting to post gardening videos again after your "sabbath".

@traceydysert6096 2 ай бұрын

Fantastic video! I grew Walla Walla onions for the first time last year and they got as big as softballs or bigger than softballs! They are perfect for deep fried onion rings! They are very good and love the flavor. Those are not a long storage onion because you can only keep them up to 3 months I think. I also grew the Patterson's last year and like you we are completely out. I don't know where I'm going to fit 300 onions but I'll find room! I just went and bought two round bales of straw today for my sweet potatoes! Going to do the Ruth Stout type of bed for my sweet potatoes. Good luck to us all in this year's garden season! Thank you so much for the video.

@simplelifegarden6154 Ай бұрын

Great video! Thank you 😊

@user-lz5fi1um7s 2 ай бұрын

I feel you..at 60 yrs old..I used to do all the things..now I can buy from Amish 40lbs for 14 dollars..yeah..love my garden but I have to choose my battles so to speak..I concentrate more of my favs

@tammyjocooke-ov1nw 2 ай бұрын

We do at least that many with avg five onions a week cooking, plus all canning recipes

@loripretti843 2 ай бұрын

Great Information!!! Thank you for sharing it with us!!! God Bless Us All!!!

@donna5754 2 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for the fertilizer recommendations ! Would you add this great information with all the things you’re planting ? I always struggle with what amendments to add and when to add them 🇨🇦

@CuriousL1144 2 ай бұрын

❤ Hi 👋

@ronaldthoms2147 2 ай бұрын

I have a piece of plywood I spaced 6 inches apart 2 inch dowels screwed into plywood I put an old sledge hammer handle screwed in top side has spacer boards on each end you set step on makes holes I pull up an move on an do all my holes then just drop in onions goes really fast wish I could send picture of it . I just did 2 30foot beds in 30n minutes or less an saves my back maybe makes 25 holes at once an stays straight

@marilynclayton3430 2 ай бұрын

💚

@miriammarquez4061 2 ай бұрын

Maybe you should put a row cover to protect them from the birds until they grow a little and get stabilized

@michelewilliams6241 2 ай бұрын

Hey Rachel, I'm worried about your spacing of your walla wallas. They get huge. But either way I hope you love them

@karenlawson4888 2 ай бұрын

I love the birdies but it is very frustrating when they pluck the seedlings out - onion, beets, radishes. I had a bolt of leftover tulle from our daughter’s wedding decor and used it to drape over the seedlings. Once the 2nd set of true leaves appear, they seem to leave them alone.

@zinnialoveci6634 2 ай бұрын

I have the same problem with robins pulling out my onion sets

@justpatty7328 2 ай бұрын

Rachel and Todd, Are you using Azomite for onions? Happy your year of rest for the Sabbath was greatly enjoyed! God bless!

@1870s 2 ай бұрын

We do have some, but I'll start gently with diluted fish emulsion

@MargieBenson-dv9ek 2 ай бұрын

❤

@taracreatestoo6388 2 ай бұрын

I live in SC zone 8 A. I'm growing onions 1rst time. I used the 1 year bulb sets. They are looking good so far. Should I be successful I'll plant twice as much. My family enjoys onions about 3 times a week. Plz share how you make a onion jam

@Sam.Willis657 2 ай бұрын

Hi Rachael. I was interested in the part about trimming the seedlings when planting them. Can I ask whether you do this again at some point in the onions lifecycle and if so when approximately. We have onions that gave been in since late summer growing all winter as it's equivalent zone 9-10 here in Spain. Should we trim them now, they are about a foot high in some cases. Many thanks.

@1870s 2 ай бұрын

I do again around 6 weeks but not after that

@michaelnemeth689 2 ай бұрын

Love you channel. Do you have any remedies for onion root maggots?

@1870s 2 ай бұрын

Don't know what they are, never had them.

@mlee7037 2 ай бұрын

So we are taking some time off from our raised beds except for some legumes to help fix nitrogen levels. Did you get your veggies last year from area farmers, or did you have enough preserved to see you through a year off?

@AngiesPantry58 2 ай бұрын

🤗💞

@do4699 2 ай бұрын

Are you growing for people besides your husband and yourself? I plant about 80-90 onions per year as a single person. I'm shooting for 1 onion per week for cooking and about 20-30 for use in canning recipes like salsa. 500 onions seems like enough for a good size family.

@1870s 2 ай бұрын

Just the two of us 😀

@angelafritz4917 2 ай бұрын

I too am going to plant close to 500 for two of us!

@brandynash1409 2 ай бұрын

She cans a LOT with her onions. She even makes and cans caramelized onions! We are a family of 6 and I have 500 onions and 400 garlic planted. I should have planted more onions, but it’s what I had space for. I would say roughly 100 per person is a good number because they aren’t all the same. We are a lower carb family and onions are a staple for us. We love fajitas! So, we planted about what you did for each person and that will be just fine! You will have plenty!

@justpatty7328 2 ай бұрын

I figure if I were to cook with onions everyday of the year, I'd need 365. That's not including any canning. Strange perhaps to figure it this way, but it might help others. God bless!

@breannahorton 2 ай бұрын

I live alone and I planted 1,000 for myself. Started with 2,000, but had surgery and lost some of my trays. About 300 will be pearl onions as I love to use them in roasts, but just about everything I make and can uses onions because I love them, and if a recipe calls for half an onion, I'm using a full or even two. It's enough to have security that I won't run out, a safety net for when some die (like this year) and if they're big enough I can give away the extra.

@HomesteadHere 2 ай бұрын

I’d love to see your chicken coop set up and how you have compost to “harvest” from it. Do I need to section off a part chickens are not allowed on for a b it?

@1870s 2 ай бұрын

We never block them off from an area. We have several videos on it, here's one: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/esB4pduFtLDcZnU.htmlsi=3R-HVybcDXLQGWS2 and here's another kzfaq.info/get/bejne/l8x7d5Z2ta3Qiqc.htmlsi=Fx9YtSQrBheA-GyN

@clancarney2541 2 ай бұрын

I bet they are searching for nests. looks like something easy to weave for them, but then there is that smell that I know I would not like for my nursery. lol

@dorothyweeksfoster3667 2 ай бұрын

HI Rachel....I was watching you plant onions and noticed the worm moving through the soil. Do worms benefit all crops?🤔😊

@1870s 2 ай бұрын

Absolutely

@marykrebs4215 2 ай бұрын

I bought 2 bunches of onions from Dixondale and they did not look like those. Mine were like the small ones 😢

@jerryprewett5294 2 ай бұрын

Would top dressing with rabbit manure hurt?

@1870s 2 ай бұрын

Rabbit poo is great fertilizer for gardens.

@NanaSuze77 2 ай бұрын

How will you keep that many onions fresh through the year?

@1870s 2 ай бұрын

Proper curing, and we store in our basement. They store well down there.

@marilynweber7957 2 ай бұрын

So you do not grow your onion starts - I'm still trying to know when to start mine to get them as big as Dixondale sends . . . Mine are tiny but they are still going out there with much prayer - maybe 1/8" across the bulb?

@cyndiaquino3874 2 ай бұрын

I started my onion seeds 2/20. They need a little more time to get that size. I'm thinking maybe next year I'll start them a month earlier

@brandynash1409 2 ай бұрын

You should start them about 3 months before you plant them.

@brandynash1409 2 ай бұрын

I’m in south Arkansas and we start ours mid October, close to when we plant garlic. And plant mod January.

@cyndiaquino3874 2 ай бұрын

@brandynash1409 I start mine 3 months before planting. I definitely think doing 4 might be better for me. I'm in zone 6a. Also give me a little room for low germination rate or if I need to start more. I eneded up with great germination rate from 400 seeds. Then 300 more were iffy.

@brandynash1409 2 ай бұрын

@@cyndiaquino3874 yes you definitely may want to start earlier. Once you figure it out you will be a master for your area! Trial and Error are the best teachers! I hope you have a great harvest!