Winter Onions – 5 Month Update vs. Annual Onion Sets

Last year we planted our first garden late in April basically all at the same time. We did have some successes, but we had some failures as well. For instances, our onions we planted in late April from seed! Our oldest even laughed at us for that. He knew we were not going to have any success from them.

Among several things that we have done to amend the soil for this year we were also determined to have a good onion crop. Back in November we planted some winter onions that Mama gave us. Then we bought onion and garlic sets from Tractor Supply in February. We planted the onion and garlic sets in late February and they are doing wonderfully! We are trying to mulch in between rows with leaves to keep the weeds down.

Onion Sets and Winter Onions
Left: Onions From Sets.  Right: Winter Onions

At the end of the row with onion sets Jon planted a few of the garlic sets until he ran out of room. We had not planned on planting garlic so it had no reserved space in the garden layout. The remaining sets Jon planted in pots and covered with some composts/mulch. They are growing like gangbusters!

Garlic Planted in Container from Sets
Garlic From Sets in Pot
This year looks more promising (at least for the onions). If this all goes well, maybe we will try planting some different varieties of onions from seed next year.
We have learned a lot in just one year, but there is so much more to learn. Is there anything that you are trying different or have learned since planting last season?