Growing onions from sets or seed?

[Greenthumb18]

Hi,
When growing onions in the garden do you find planting sets are better than from seed? I know that growing sets allows you to grow bulb onions quicker but is one better than the other. I'm trying to decide if i should grow from sets or seed this year.

Thanks!!

 

[vfem]

I am going with seeds as that is what I got... but I did read in "100 Greatest Garden Ideas" that you end up with better onions from seed. It said something along the lines of its easier to find what you want, and its easier to save seeds. It also suggested raised beds over soil growing. They can't fight weeds very well.

I even started my seeds inside in peat pots, where I will move them out to the garden in a couple weeks. They are going to move into my bed with my tomatoes... but I'm also placing about 6 of them in with my strawberries.

So far the onions are doing well under the grow lamps.

 

[rebbetzin]

I do both seed and bulbs. I even plant old onions that have sprouted in the pantry and let them go to seed.

Here it only takes a few weeks to get "green onions" from bulbs, seeds take two or three seasons to get anything worth eating. The summer heat here tends to make them go dormant, then come back in the winter/spring of the following year.

 

[Greenthumb18]

Oh ok i'll plant seeds and sets then. I could probably harvest some early for greens onions then let the rest grow to storage onions. And sets seem to be faster but their arent so many varieties to chose from as with seed there are.

Thanks

 

[vfem]

I think it would be awesome to plant both! Just think of the sets as early pickings

I got some long season variety... so I won't have onions until fall, but they are GREEN storing onions. I need enough to get us through winter for sure.

 

[momofdrew]

every time I have planted sets they seem to bolt early no harvest...seeds do better for me JUST be sure you keep them well weeded they do not like compitition...

 

[lnm03]

I hope this isnt thread hijacking or anything but I was looking at a garden planting chart and trying to find out when to plant and this is what it said about onions for my area Zone 5b.

Onion (mature) 100-120 Mar 25 - Apr 15
Sept. 1-Dec. 31 300 plants or gal. sets 1 to 2 ft. 3 to 4 in. in.

What does the "mature" part mean? How do I know if my onion sets are "mature"?

Thanks and sorry if this is hijacking!!!

 

[vfem]

Mature=harvest time (full grown plant)

 

[setter4]

I hope this isnt thread hijacking or anything but I was looking at a garden planting chart and trying to find out when to plant and this is what it said about onions for my area Zone 5b.

Onion (mature) 100-120 Mar 25 - Apr 15
Sept. 1-Dec. 31 300 plants or gal. sets 1 to 2 ft. 3 to 4 in. in.

What does the "mature" part mean? How do I know if my onion sets are "mature"?

Thanks and sorry if this is hijacking!!!

It's telling you that it will mature 100-120 days after you plant it.

 

[vfem]

I just wanna say I broke down and planted my onions outside last night. I'm such a pansy and couldn't wait. They do like the cooler weather so they'll be fine.

Gotta get those strawberries out today and into the ground, so I'm going to spread another 1/2 dz onion seeds into the ground inbetween some strawberry plants.