It was well below zero here the beginning of this week and has only now recovered into the single digits just to drop back down below zero for daytime highs this coming weekend. Still that is way warmer than winter minimums used to be. Zone 4 used to go down to -30 F every winter. We haven't seen that in a long time and I hope we never do again.

Damn but I got spring fever already! and bad! It's a good thing day length is starting to get longer.

Thanks for the info. I gotta set up my lights this year for sure!

BTW I got 4 seed catalogs in the mail this past week. Several of them are offering Copra plants, including Burpees. Jung's in Wisconsin is offering both seeds and plants.

I'll likely start my onions and leeks inside either later this month or in early February for a mid to late March planting once it warms up a little. I've never grown either of these vegetables before, let alone started them indoors, so we'll see how it goes :-)

Jacob - I would recommend that you start your onions and leeks ASAP for a mid to late March planting. I like them to have at minimum 10 weeks from seeding to transplant and 12 weeks is even better.

Well gosh! I guess I've got to get my grow area set up quick then. I had read 6 weeks! Jack, do you keep them on a heating pad by any chance or do they germinate fine at just room temperature? I have a heating pad but never have used it. Thanks.

Jacob - they won't be nearly big enough at 6 weeks. They aren't even ready for their first haircut until about 4-5 weeks old. I don't even have a heating pad but I could probably use one for peppers that take 10-20 days without one. It just speeds things up a bit really. I just put all of my newly seeded things on top of my freezer that stays about 70 degrees. I move them under the lights about one day before I expect the first sprouting which would be on day 5 for leeks and onions that sprout in 6 or 7 days.

These are my leeks on day 17.

Bunching onions on day 10

Dutch - I don't imagine you've started your leeks and onions quite yet. I am going to start some of both for my brother's WI garden this weekend. My leeks started Dec 22 will be getting their first haircut this weekend. They are about 5" tall right now and growing fast. Bunching onions started a week later are doing well and between 3 and 4 inches.

Do you grow the perennial bunching onions at all?

I don't think I will grow any leeks this summer, but I have Copra seed so I will probably try to start them inside. I think I will also try to grow some Copra sets for next year. I've seen that done before, and in the past the smaller Copra onions from one season grew on with very little bolting the next summer. If the inside onions do ok, I may forego buying plants this year.

Right now I am inundated with seed and nursery catalogs!

Dutch - I hear you on the catalogs. I had received 19 as of last count and I think I've thrown out a few. Probably 2/3 of them are from companies I've never ordered from but may be affiliated with ones I have (like Jungs, Shumway, Vermont Bean)

The Evergreen Hardy White bunching onions I grow will go dormant in mid summer and then start growing again in the early fall and split. Last time I let some overwinter I didn't have room for all of them the next year but I kept a few and planted them. I prefer the taste and size of the ones grown from seed each year, they seem much sweeter to my taste buds.

One thing they seem to do is send a catalog to whomever visits their websites. And like you say there are few independent seed companies anymore; most are part of some conglomerate, some of which are huge, some not so big.

Yeah I get dozens of the things from companies I have never had anything to do with. I am not sure why competitors would share their mailing lists like they obviously do.

I am planting my onions and leeks today.

Hi Peter - good to see you! I gave my leeks their first haircut on Saturday and started my brother's leeks as well. Now I have to wait another 5 weeks to start my broccoli and cauliflower. I need to do a germination test on a couple things between now and then so that will keep me content.

Update on my leek and bunching onions starts.

King Richard, Megaton, and Gevaria leeks at 6 weeks. They were about 6.5" in the photo and were given a haircut back down to 5" after I took the picture. This was there 3rd haircut.

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Evergreen hardy white bunching onions at 5 weeks. They were given their second haircut after taking the picture.

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I am planning to plant these out in mid March weather permitting.

Update on my leeks and bunching onions. The Megaton leeks are really outperforming the King Richard and Gevaria as far a growth rate and girth. They could be planted out now but it is still a few weeks too early. Hoping to plant them out March 10.

Leeks - This picture was taken at 7.5 weeks from sowing.

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Bunching onions at 6.5 weeks

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Those are coming along great it seems!

Bunching onions are awesome! :) I like to grow them whenever the first year (no need to start them in January), let them grow that year undisturbed; let them overwinter; divide them in the spring (if you haven't, yet), harvest only the greens, let them multiply, and repeat (until I need to eat them or give them away as plants to free up space).

Bunching onions are bigger and more robust the second year, in my experience.

I like to start my bunching onion seeds in an unheated greenhouse (but I've had good results with direct-seeding when it was warmer). Regular onions (e.g. Alisa Craig) seem to start just fine in the greenhouse, too (although I haven't tried that in January—I planted in early March: I'm experimenting with a multi-year project with them; so, I don't intend to harvest them this year).

Shule - I overwintered some 2 years ago but I didn't divide them in the spring and replant. The first year they went dormant in mid summer and then came back strong in late summer and fall and divided into big clumps. I just hadn't planned well and didn't have anywhere to put them. I'm going to leave a few to over winter again this year.

I planted out all of my leeks and most of the bunching onions on St. Patrick's day weekend. 110 leeks and about 180 bunching onions.