Grow your own onion sets from seed. It is not difficult, does not require much time, and can put you ahead in both time and money. Onion sets are small, dry onion bulbs grown the previous season but not allowed to mature. Planted the second season they produce an early crop of bulb onions in…
Bulb Vegetables
Fall and Spring Planted Garlic
Best Times to Plant Garlic • Plant garlic in late summer or fall and allow it to overwinter for a harvest of large bulbs next summer. Plant garlic in the spring and harvest it in the fa ll for smaller bulbs (and usually a small yield). • Late summer or fall planted garlic should be…
How to Grow Taro
Taro–also called Dasheen–is a perennial tropical or subtropical plant commonly grown for its starchy but sweet flavored tuber. Taro is always served cooked, not raw. The taro tuber is cooked like a potato, has a doughy texture, and can be used to make flour. Young taro leaves and stems can be eaten after boiling twice…
How to Grow Celeriac
Celeriac is a cool-season biennial grown as an annual. It is similar in growth habit and requirements as celery. Celeriac is best when it comes to harvest in cool weather. It is best started indoors and later transplanted into the garden. Sow seed indoors as early as 10 weeks before the average last frost date…
How to Grow Shallots
Shallots are a cool-weather vegetable usually grown from cloves, not seeds. Set cloves in the garden as early as 4 to 6 weeks before the average last frost date in spring. Shallots require a dormant period of about 30 days soon after planting with temperatures between 32° and 50°F (0-10°C). Shallots will grow in soil…
How to Grow Beets
Beets are a cool-weather crop. Beets thrive in moderate temperatures from 50°F to 65°F (10-18°C). Sow beets in the garden 2 to 3 weeks before the last average frost date in spring. Continue succession plantings every 3 weeks until temperatures reach 80°F (26°C). Beets can again be planted in late summer or early autumn 6…
How to Grow Asparagus
Asparagus is the first sign of Spring in many vegetable gardens. Stalks or spears begin to break the soil in early spring as soon as the soil temperature reaches 50°F (10°C). Asparagus is a perennial vegetable that requires three to four years to become established and productive. Once established, an asparagus plant can produce spears…
Planting Onions
Grow onions from seed, seedlings, or sets (small dry onion bulbs started the year before). Bulbing onions require 80 to 120 days to reach harvest. Green onions are harvested before they form bulbs, in 40 days or less. Spring onions form small, immature bulbs and are harvested in 40 to 60 days. Onion Planting Calendar….
Spring Onions, Green Onions and Scallions
Young onions offer a range of taste from mild and smooth to pungent and biting. You can eat raw young onions whole with a dipping sauce or chopped in a green salad or potato salad or pasta salad. Raw green onions chopped make a colorful topping for sauces or baked potatoes. Onions cooked become mild…
Onion Cooking and Serving Tips
Onions come in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and colors, as well as specific varieties. There are fresh onions and onions for storage. There are onions for eating raw and onions for cooking. There are mild onions and pungent onions. There are onions that grow best where the days are short and onions that…