That is a long time for bunching onions to mature. They may have used a generic onion maturation time on the packet. I checked a couple online seed vendors and they said 60 days and 75 days for evergreen white. Usually bunching onions are planted densely and used many at a time. If you direct sow it will be much less work, and since bulb formation is irrelevant you can harvest them at any point in the season and their eating quality will be the same. If they aren't giant at the end of the season you can still eat them, or let them winter over and they'll be back bigger (and in larger numbers). I overwintered about half a dozen of them that were planted last summer, a couple divided in two, and several are now in the process of flowering. I was hoping they'd split into 5 or 6 like shallots do, unless they divide several times per year they don't seem particularly 'bunching'.

I keep mine on a south facing window sill,I dont like to keep them outside due to bugs getting to them. I keep my soil moist but not wet.Browning leaves could mean improper watering. Others will post more info for you. Good luck,they are a neat plant. Christine

I don't know if I can post here. I used to live in Texas (30 years ago, Rice Undergrad...). I just saw a bloom on a Ruttya fruticosa cutting that has been sitting inside (totally artificial light, compact fluorescent, 24/7). I just noticed it today, it's still Halloween here, so maybe the colors are appropriate. I'm not sure if I have the plant outside--I got the cuttings in May from a friend and at least some have been in a glass of water ever since. So no hummingbirds inside--yet.

Damping off symptoms can be caused by any number of very common and ubiquitous fungal diseases. I'm a firm believer that the symptoms can be avoided. I've never had a problem with damping off....not in my greenhouses as a professional nor in my garage as a hobbyist. (Knock on wood) Careful attention to pre-season sanitation practices is very important. I spend a little time sanitizing my germination flats, the shelving, my tools, everything in the vicinity of my germination area. I germinate the seeds over heat, but grow on in pretty chilly conditions. I try to strike a balance between temperature, relative humidity, soil moisture, and light. I operate a small fan at all times. I have, however, never watered anything from below in my life. Here's a pretty good Fact Sheet about damping off