Post a reply

Image
Jan 16, 2025 3:34 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ed
South Alabama (Zone 8b)
Garden Procrastinator Region: United States of America Region: Alabama Enjoys or suffers hot summers Tomato Heads Vegetable Grower
Solar Power Bee Lover Birds Seed Starter Butterflies Container Gardener
QUICK QUESTION!!! :)
I've got some short-day onion starts *way overdue* for planting. I've been waiting for this endless freeze/don't-freeze/rain/don't-rain cycle to moderate but it looks like it won't anytime soon. Looks like the cold isn't moderating, the soil is about as dry as it has been (actually looks pretty good) and the days are getting longer...I need to plant the starts.

We've got a good forecast for tomorrow (Friday)...62F, sunny, calm. Rain moves in tomorrow night with a low of 48F. Rain continues into Saturday and Saturday night with a high 68F!!! But, a low of 39F.

Sunday is altogether different with a high of 47F.

Sunday night......clear with a low of 19F!

20-21F lows are forecast for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights with highs in the mid-30s to mid-40s.

The starts have got good size on them and look good.

The way I figure it, the starts are gonna die or not amount to anything much if I don't get them in the ground soon so I don't have a whole lot to lose...or do I? Does the freezing nighttime temperatures spell doom for the onion starts if I plant them this afternoon or tomorrow morrow? And, if it does...will holding the starts yet two or three more weeks matter?

Thanks!
Ed
Image
Jan 16, 2025 4:06 PM CST
California Central Valley (Zone 8b)
Region: California
Plant them now. Freezing temperatures and even frozen soil will not kill them. I plant anytime between November and March, depending upon how busy I am.
Image
Jan 16, 2025 4:30 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ed
South Alabama (Zone 8b)
Garden Procrastinator Region: United States of America Region: Alabama Enjoys or suffers hot summers Tomato Heads Vegetable Grower
Solar Power Bee Lover Birds Seed Starter Butterflies Container Gardener
Sheesh... I just flipped over to the National Weather Service and they're predicting 2 to 6 inches of snow accumulation Monday night through Tuesday night. I dunno.... Looks like if I plant it will be tomorrow, I need to work some alfalfa pellets in before planting so will have to grab them in the morning. I tilled the area and raked weeds this afternoon. So, I can work the pellets in and plant tomorrow...if I don't chicken out. It just seems strange that the onion starts can handle that cold but I've heard they are definitely able to handle some cold weather...it's my first time planting onion starts (grew them from seed) so I have no idea what I'm doing. Using the fertilizer recommendation from Dixondale Farms, 160-80-140 lbs per acre, my calculations come up to a rounded off 13 pounds of alfalfa pellets per my 60'x1.5' row.
Image
Jan 16, 2025 4:59 PM CST
California Central Valley (Zone 8b)
Region: California
I would plant them.
Image
Jan 16, 2025 6:02 PM CST
Name: Kat
Magnolia, Tx (Zone 9a)
Region: Texas Dragonflies Hummingbirder Peppers Herbs Vegetable Grower
Heirlooms Moon Gardener Enjoys or suffers hot summers Winter Sowing Bookworm Container Gardener
We always planted them in what felt like blue northers, cold nasty, wet freezing and had awesome harvests. That was in 7a zone in Okla, and all hands on deck to plant from 6 yrs to 70 yrs old to get it done. In Jan usually, tho the onions had to be picked up in bundles at the store, so sometimes it was Feb. bite the bullet and get to it, Ed, the cold in your bones is waiting for warmer summer plants before it leaves.
Image
Jan 16, 2025 6:03 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ed
South Alabama (Zone 8b)
Garden Procrastinator Region: United States of America Region: Alabama Enjoys or suffers hot summers Tomato Heads Vegetable Grower
Solar Power Bee Lover Birds Seed Starter Butterflies Container Gardener
I think I'm gonna plant'em. nodding
Image
Jan 16, 2025 6:48 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ed
South Alabama (Zone 8b)
Garden Procrastinator Region: United States of America Region: Alabama Enjoys or suffers hot summers Tomato Heads Vegetable Grower
Solar Power Bee Lover Birds Seed Starter Butterflies Container Gardener
We about posted at the same time, Kat!

Yep, I just saw a photo online with the onion leaves about 1/2 buried in snow. Nice. Then I read a couple other places about them being tough. I just don't hardly see how they'll survive 20-degree weather. Shrug!

The starts are Texas Early Grano and the other Australian Brown. I'm gonna split them between me, my gardening buddy, and the jail garden. They are both short-day yellow sweet onions with limited storage life. I hope the Texas EG does well at the jail, they've already got some planted there. Thumbs up They just need a few more starts to finish out a row. Thumbs up

I just looked and I need to correct myself, I stated the Australian Brown was a short-day onion but it appears to be an intermediate-day onion. Thumbs up
Image
Jan 16, 2025 7:28 PM CST
California Central Valley (Zone 8b)
Region: California
Intheswamp said: I think I'm gonna plant'em. nodding


Good idea. Smiling
Image
Jan 16, 2025 7:34 PM CST
Name: Sandy B.
Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b)
(Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Butterflies Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Greenhouse Region: United States of America Region: Michigan Enjoys or suffers cold winters
Ed, without having any actual idea about gardening in the south, I agree with the "go ahead and plant them." Keep in mind that I planted onions in an unheated hoophouse in the fall and they are out there happily just waiting for spring, even with below-zero temps. Smiling (And onions that I somehow manage to miss harvesting in the summer always survive our winters and sprout up in the spring.)
“The new dawn blooms as we free it, for there is always light –
if only we’re brave enough to see it, if only we’re brave enough to be it.”
~Amanda Gorman~

C/F temp conversion
Image
Jan 16, 2025 7:35 PM CST
Name: Dillard Haley
Augusta Georgia (Zone 8a)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Master Level
Can't give any additional advice Ed. My 500 Georgia Boys were planted in December and are making themselves at home. Onions can take low teens when established but while I have about 100 plants left over from December, I am going to wait past the coming Siberian Express to transplant them.
Image
Jan 16, 2025 7:38 PM CST
Name: Sandy B.
Ford River Twp, Michigan UP (Zone 4b)
(Zone 4b-maybe 5a)
Charter ATP Member Bee Lover Butterflies Birds I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Seed Starter Vegetable Grower Greenhouse Region: United States of America Region: Michigan Enjoys or suffers cold winters
On further review... I would take Dillard's advice, Ed! Big Grin
“The new dawn blooms as we free it, for there is always light –
if only we’re brave enough to see it, if only we’re brave enough to be it.”
~Amanda Gorman~

C/F temp conversion
Image
Jan 16, 2025 7:56 PM CST
Name: Kat
Magnolia, Tx (Zone 9a)
Region: Texas Dragonflies Hummingbirder Peppers Herbs Vegetable Grower
Heirlooms Moon Gardener Enjoys or suffers hot summers Winter Sowing Bookworm Container Gardener
Isn't the snow, but ice doesn't get in the way either, Dillard might not need to plant this soon, think of daffodils, the blooms can be mangled by ice, but the leaves do fine
Image
Jan 17, 2025 7:22 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ed
South Alabama (Zone 8b)
Garden Procrastinator Region: United States of America Region: Alabama Enjoys or suffers hot summers Tomato Heads Vegetable Grower
Solar Power Bee Lover Birds Seed Starter Butterflies Container Gardener
Here's from the updated National Weather Service forecast, they're forecasting less snow now Hurray! (I'm not a snowfan. Hilarious! ):
Monday Night
A slight chance of snow after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.
Tuesday
A chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 38. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New snow accumulation of around one inch possible.

Tuesday Night
A chance of snow before midnight, then a slight chance of snow and a slight chance of freezing rain. Partly cloudy, with a low around 18. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible. Little or no ice accumulation expected.

The two nights after "Snowmageddon" nodding present a warming trend...25F and then a 31F.

The 18F and 20Fs worry me...that's pretty doggone cold for a newly planted plant that'll only be an inch or so deep. But, my biggest concern is soil getting wet. Right now the soil is workable but put a 1/2" of rain on it and it'll get ugly real quick, I think. Tonight through tomorrow night there's a chance of around an inch falling...and it's really slow to dry out in this cold weather. Missing this chance to plant might postpone planting another two or three weeks. D'Oh!

I guess what I might do is plant part of them now and then plant the remaining starts after this rain/freeze/snow cycle stops. Confused
Image
Jan 17, 2025 7:32 AM CST
Name: Sally
central Maryland (Zone 7b)
See you in the funny papers!
Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Procrastinator Charter ATP Member Hummingbirder Frogs and Toads Houseplants
Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Region: Maryland Composter Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener
I love the 'hedge your bets' half and half method, I use that now and then.
Snow on top of the starts, I think would be good.
Plant it and they will come.
Image
Jan 17, 2025 7:44 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ed
South Alabama (Zone 8b)
Garden Procrastinator Region: United States of America Region: Alabama Enjoys or suffers hot summers Tomato Heads Vegetable Grower
Solar Power Bee Lover Birds Seed Starter Butterflies Container Gardener
Well, whatever I do...it'll get done today. From what I've read the onions "should" be okay being planted and going through the cold. But, yeah, I'll stick some starts back "just in case". Thumbs up
Image
Jan 17, 2025 8:05 AM CST
Name: Sally
central Maryland (Zone 7b)
See you in the funny papers!
Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Procrastinator Charter ATP Member Hummingbirder Frogs and Toads Houseplants
Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Region: Maryland Composter Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener
It is hard to put our babies out in the cold cruel world. Every seed and start has such potential. We want them all to go forth and produce!
Plant it and they will come.
Avatar for Rubi
Jan 17, 2025 12:28 PM CST
West Central Minnesota (Zone 4a)
Hummingbirder
Are these seedlings, dormant plants, or sets? If they're seedlings, they will not do well with temps in the teens. I lost quite a few of my early experiment last year. If it snows, that will protect them. The snow won't hurt them.
Image
Jan 18, 2025 9:13 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ed
South Alabama (Zone 8b)
Garden Procrastinator Region: United States of America Region: Alabama Enjoys or suffers hot summers Tomato Heads Vegetable Grower
Solar Power Bee Lover Birds Seed Starter Butterflies Container Gardener
Rubi said: Are these seedlings, dormant plants, or sets? If they're seedlings, they will not do well with temps in the teens. I lost quite a few of my early experiment last year. If it snows, that will protect them. The snow won't hurt them.

Coming from Minnesota I figure you know what you're talking about. The bad thing is that I saw your post right *after* I got through planting. Whistling Oh, well...

I never knew planting onions was so much fun. I also have no idea whether I planted them correctly...they're in the soil, I can see green leaves, I scattered roughly 1/2 pound of 13-13-13 per 10' of row and worked it in prior to planting. Shrug!

According to my "count", I planted 155 Australian Browns (30') and 94 Texas Early Grano (20'). With an eight foot gap between them for who knows what. I've still got some seedlings left in the tray if catastrophe hits...not as many as I planted, but I really don't see us eating 249 onions in a year, anyhow. Green Grin! Though a rain was predicted for last night and today the amounts were questionable so I went ahead and watered them in a bit. Of course, the rain came over night and then some more this morning...not sure how much, yet.

The next seven nights look like this:
Lo 40 °F Lo 18 °F Lo 22 °F Lo 18 °F Lo 19 °F Lo 24 °F Lo 25 °F
Blinking

Ah well, if a few makes...so be it. Sad If a bunch makes...I'll be looking for folks to give them to. Thumbs up

For some reason I feel like I've set up these seedlings for cold death...for some reason the siege of Leningrad comes to mind. Crying Thumbs down

On the bright side, there's only 60 days, 18 hours, and 49 minutes until spring!!!! Hurray!
Image
Jan 18, 2025 9:57 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Ed
South Alabama (Zone 8b)
Garden Procrastinator Region: United States of America Region: Alabama Enjoys or suffers hot summers Tomato Heads Vegetable Grower
Solar Power Bee Lover Birds Seed Starter Butterflies Container Gardener
Not really knowing what I was doing, this is how I set up the onion death trap...

On the left side of the photo you can see an apron of weedy ground that was tilled back in the summer...kinda a buffer area. That's where the onions went...
Thumb of 2025-01-18/Intheswamp/e9527e

Here, the "apron" is tilled and raked a bit smooth. I then scattered the fertilizer and raked it in with my potato hoe pulling up buried weeds as I went...
Thumb of 2025-01-18/Intheswamp/d44952

And, this is the dramatic "I have no idea what I'm doing" way that I prepared to plant. I drug a hoe down the row making two furrows roughly six inches apart. I spaced the seedlings out between three and five (six?) inches according to my NASA-issued measuring device. I'd wiggle my finger in the furrow and make a small depression, then pull dirt in from either side, pat it down a tad, and move on to the next little seedling. I could've sworn I heard tiny little screams of "NOOO!!!!!" Crying as I was planting, but I digress...
Thumb of 2025-01-18/Intheswamp/0576bc

Here is a view from the east end of the garden of the 20' row of Texas Early Granos...in the far distance, about a mile and a half down, is the 30' row of Australian Browns.
Thumb of 2025-01-18/Intheswamp/f0497c

And last, is a shot from the west end of the row showing the Australian Browns and about a mile and half on down you see (I think you're catching on! nodding ) the row of Texas Early Granos. This shot is dramatically different from the previous shot...yeah, this is after I watered them in. Green Grin!
Thumb of 2025-01-18/Intheswamp/037e1f

Thinking Hmmm, I wonder if it's too late to get some Federal crop insurance????
Image
Jan 18, 2025 12:42 PM CST
Name: Sally
central Maryland (Zone 7b)
See you in the funny papers!
Overwinters Tender Plants Indoors Garden Procrastinator Charter ATP Member Hummingbirder Frogs and Toads Houseplants
Keeper of Poultry Vegetable Grower Region: Maryland Composter Native Plants and Wildflowers Organic Gardener
Ed, I think they will be fabulous and I enjoy how you write about it Smiling
Plant it and they will come.

Only the members of the Members group may reply to this thread.
Member Login:

( No account? Join now! )

Today's site banner is by Paul2032 and is called "Echinacea and Rudbeckia"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.