Growing Australian Brown

[Heirloomstrist]

Onions from seeds? Has anyone grown your onions from seed? I have always used onion sets.

I ordered ON101#Australian Browns this year in seed from Baker Creek, and would like to know if any one else as done this from seed? Thanks for your help. :)

[Zephyrbird5a-6]

Yes, I've grown Australian brown from seed. I actually love growing onions from seed. I germinated them in a flat with sterile mix, then when they were about 2" tall I went through the tedious process of transplanting them into trays, about 3 per tray, then let them grow out and transplanted from there.

Worked well, IMO. Tedious, but rewarding. Sweet onions, lots of water. Spicier hot onions, less water more heat. That's been my experience.

P.S. WELCOME TO IDIG HEIRLOOMSTRIST!

[Heirloomstrist]

Thank you Zephyrbird,
That is great info., when do you start the seeds? My packet states indoors in late winter!? Now then you think?

Thank you for the Welcome as well!

[Zephyrbird5a-6]

I had access to a greenhouse at that time and started them in early March. They came up fairly quickly and were ready to plant outside by May. Now if you have grow lights that's cool. If not, southern window is good. I moistened my soil BEFORE I seeded the flats. Don't plant them deep. Keep them moist by misting. Once they were transplanted to trays, I watered them regularly.

I'm in SW Michigan, 5b to 6a. Where are you growing?

[evilsunflower]

Any idea if the Australian Brown is long day or short day or day neutral? The Baker Creek catalog doesn't say and I can't seem to find the information anywhere else. I have the seed already, but don't want to waste time and space on something that's designed to grow in the South and will never bulb up here in NY.

[plantinthings]

HI. I was looking thru another catalog and it says 100 days from transplant.
Don't know if that helps ya any.

[Emerald]

Any idea if the Australian Brown is long day or short day or day neutral? The Baker Creek catalog doesn't say and I can't seem to find the information anywhere else. I have the seed already, but don't want to waste time and space on something that's designed to grow in the South and will never bulb up here in NY.

I'm with Evilsunflower here-- I have been sold seed up here in the cold north and told that they grow anywhere and got sweet onion golf balls... I too want to grow the Australian Brown but BC didn't state if it is a long, short or neutral onion. I have most of my leeks and bunching onions going right now.

[ogopj]

For what it's worth, I have grown the Austrailian Brown onions from seed up here in Michigan. I have a hard time transplanting them tough. I normally kill half of them when I do it. I think the problem is that I don't get them strong enough before I take them out. The ones that do survive are a decend size come canning time. The ones I start outside are a bit smaller. If I left them in till just before frost I think they'd be better. My resolution this year was to work on what i'm doing wrong with my onions, and to plant more of them :)

[Emerald]

So they do ok here in MI? they get bigger than onion set size?

[plantinthings]

I went searching and found this site

http://www.avrdc.org/LC/onion/practices.html

[Emerald]

I went searching and found this site

http://www.avrdc.org/LC/onion/practices.html

Whoo HOoo!! thanks for the link-- it says that AB are long day-- I might have to go and buy some!! Thanks Plantinthings.:D

[plantinthings]

I thought they were but wanted to look into it further.
Your welcome.

[evilsunflower]

Thanks! I got the seed in a trade because they sounded like exactly what I wanted. I'm relieved to hear they'll grow here.