Happy New Year and welcome to the 2013 gardening season. With the much needed moisture we received Christmas day, the soils should be ready for planting onions. Onions are expected to be available in Russell Feed & Supply stores the first week of January. “Short Day” onions are recommended for southern states where temperatures are normally warmer year round. The “short day” varieties will start making bulbs early in the year when there are only 10 to 12 hours of daylight.
See the different varieties and their descriptions below:
- 1015Y Texas SuperSweet gets as big as softballs! This yellow, early-maturing onion is recommended for southern gardens. It is very disease resistant and will store better than other short day onions.
- Yellow Granex (Vidalia) Sweet as an apple! This variety was made famous by the onion-growing area in and around Vidalia, Georgia. It is the earliest-maturing variety available, and recommended for southern growers. This thick, flat bulb is best when eaten raw. Yellow Granex does not store well.
- White Granex White Vadalia type. This variety has the same characteristics as the yellow variety, but with a pearly-white flesh. It is also recommended for southern growers.
- White Bermuda also known as Crystal Wax. An old gardening favorite! Great for eating raw. White Bermuda bulbs are extremely mild. They are thick, flat bulbs that grow best in the southern areas.
Plant onions about 1” deep, 3” apart, and in full sun.
Fresh bulk and package garden seeds have been ordered and should be in stock at Russell Feed & Supply soon. Seed potatoes are expected to arrive the second week of January.
Benbrook Organic Meeting on January 17th //7:00pm // Benbrook Library//
Have a great planting season!
Thanks,
MIKE
This information/image regarding “short day” onions was from Texas A&M aggie-horticulture. For more information:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/publications/onions/shortday.html