forgot to add that they fell over just as the bulbs start to plump, been flat for a good month.
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When they fall over, they're generally done producing. When growing bulb onions it's important to get them in the ground early so they can grow lots of leaves before they begin bulbing. There is one layer of onion for each leaf and so more leaves equals bigger onions. Plant them as early in the spring as the ground can be worked. Depending upon variety they begin bulbing when they start getting 14 - 16 hours of direct sunlight, so you want a big healthy plant by then - also planting in full sun is needed for big onions. My yellow (candy) and white (superstar) both produced softball sized bulbs, but I've yet to find a red one that will do that - suggested variety appreciated. Finally, you must plant the right type onion for your area - which your garden center should be selling, but long day varieties will not get big in the south for example. Check out www.dixondalefarms.com for a good description of varieties and growing conditions.

Agree, much earlier planting and be sure to use varieties suitable for your zone. I think zone 5 is long-day varieties only so you may want to do some research into the different long-day, short-day, and intermediate varieties.

Dave

I think a cold frame will be in order next season. April is the earliest I can plant unless they can take snow. I will have to look into long day varieties and start them myself so I know what I am getting.

Check out Dixondale Farms for day length info, plants, and growing tips.

a good onion to plant in the fall if you can get sets is stuttgartt. They will overwinter and come up in the spring. I am in zone 5 and they work for me. Fresh onions for the table in may is great.

You don't need a cold frame and you don't need to start your own - just follow the advice you've been given and you'll be successful

Those in the picture could use more sun and elbow room on the sides of the rows.

I have looking through the dixondale link, I am located in Ontario, Canada though so they can not ship plants here. I will defiantly look for seed of the plants they sell.

The onions get a lot of sun, from sun up to 4-5pm, south facing so there is lots of rays and heat. I will be giving them some more room next season but I only have so much room, maybe I will do two rows as appose to 3.

I am going to have to find these stuttgartt sets, I have lots of room from fall-spring.

Thanks for all the info!

Hey dan,

What are you using in your white tunnel to keep the fabric up off the seedlings? I find your tunnel interesting. I grow my seedlings in a deep pot with plastic wrap secured with a giant rubber band -- sort of a mini greenhouse. I might try your tunnel if you tell me about it.

I start my candy onion seed in Jan/Feb under lights in the house and transplant in April to the garden. If it is real cold I cover the plants with remay cloth as you have broccoli.
Seeds need the extra time to get going and if they get too tall in the pots, I just snip them off with scissors, makes them bulk up with leaves.
flora2b

Aulani - I just used wire hangers, twist/bend them apart and just stick them in the ground. If you want a more perminate approach you could sink rebar into the ground on either side, put pvc electrical conduit over one rebar and bend over to the corresponding rebar. I am thinking of doing this next year because the hangers will rust out pretty fast. Here is a link were you can purchase floating row cover from Johnny's

flora2b - Thanks for the time frame, I have a metal halide light for over wintering plants so I will defiantly start some under it in January. I am figuring the seedlings I purchased were not started early enough, they were rather small, just two or three leaves.