Hi steve22802,

You're right about seeds taking longer. Sets have a 1-2 month head start on seeds. In areas with a short growing season some varieties may only finish if started with sets.
You probably have a great season In VA in zone 7.

I'm growing sets from seeds this year. I just started them inside yesterday. The sets will be ready to go out in may. There is still a lot of snow here in Maine but I'm already gardening.

Good Luck

There is a third option which worked well for me in Virginia and also works here in Georgia. In Virginia I bought plants and set them out in March, harvested in June -July. ( long day types like Sweet Spanish, Red Hamburger). Here in Georgia, I still use plants but the short day granex type set in December and harvested in April. Sets are especially good for green onions in Virginia. Never had much luck with starting from seeds there.

Sets. Bought some Vadelia last year planted in November, harvested in June and boy were they better then store bought.

Here is a link that might be useful: Propagating Perennials

Lots and lots to choose from if you are thinking about onion seeds, Steve.

With the sets around here, I've got the choice of 2 - yellow or white.

Onion seed for 2 sweets and scallions has been planted in my little greenhouse but those seedlings won't be able to catch up with the sets I'll pick up in a few weeks. And, then there's a few plants coming in the mail.

I think that's real variety and All Good.

Steve's digits

Steve, I've tried all different ways and have the best luck with plants. Your zone is much warmer than mine so your results may be different. I order from Dixondale Farms online and have had very good luck with them. I do have some seed sown in flats right now but intend to use them as green onions. There are pros and cons to each method, I think. I was just out tilling the garden today so I'll be ready when my order arrives. Still too early but since it was nice out I thought I would get a jump on moving dirt around. Good luck, Lori

Since all I'm growing are green onions, I went with seeds. Besides, my attempt to make my own sets inside failed. Hope that works. Hehe

Here is a link that might be useful: Sinfonian's garden adventure

I have not had good luck with either seeds or sets. Plants work pretty well for me here in southern CT. I try to get them in early. They like the cooler temps. Buy a variety that is suited to your area and daylight conditions.
John A

Well I ended up buying both sets (purple) and plants (yellow sweet) so I guess I'll find out if there is much difference between those. The sets ended up being considerably cheaper at 0.99/lb which ended up being around 140 bublets vs. a package of 60 sweet onion plants for 3.49. Should the onion plants cost that much more? The plants seem overpriced by comparison.

I had very good results from seeds last year, but they had to be started a couple of months before last frost indoors in flats. They were very slow to get past the size of tiny chives. But they took off when planted out, and the quality at harvest was excellent. Bunching onions are also good for this.

Next year, you might consider 'slips' which are small green plants that have not yet formed a bulb. I can get these locally in mid-April, and this will vary around the country, at just about any plant nursery. I have better luck with these than with the tiny bulbs, which seem to form hollow cores and multi-segmented onions. Seeds are great, but have to be sown pretty early - here about now, and if sown directly in the garden can get hammered by hard freezes. A lot of people, including myself, order slips from an outfit called Dixondale Farms, who specialize in onion slips.

In South Louisiana we plant the short day onions. I plant seeds in late September in seed boxes. I set plants in early December. Granex 33 Hybrid (aka Vidalia, if planted there) is the main variety I plant. See picture link below for their current status..

Here is a link that might be useful:

Very nice grandad! Sweet onions and by the looks of it a sweet garden over all.

Sets are small, dormant bulbs. When they start growing, they are in their second year of growth which, if I understand it correctly, is the reason they are apt to have hollow spots and do attain the largest possible size. They are best used for green onions.

Plants can be bought or grown by you from seed. If they are the right type for your region and if they are started early enough, they will produce large, solid bulbs. Seed should be started in January or February and plants should be set out around early to late March in the North and earlier in the South. See Dixondale's shipping chart for more precise info.

I'm still refining my onion growing method, so if your experience differs from this please tell about it.

Jim

Here is a link that might be useful: Onion Planting Chart