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Onions are members of the Allium family and are cousins of garlic, chives, leeks and shallots. They are mostly biennial as they grow vegetative the first year, then bloom the second year. Onions can be started by sets, direct seeding and transplanting.

Direct seeding means you plant the seeds directly in the ground. An example of this would be scallions which are also called green onions or bunching onions. They are used when they are undersized and generally are eaten raw. We use the straight white shanks that are usually bulbless. We use much of the upper green portion as it is tender and mild. In the supermarket, scallions often come trimmed and bundled, a dozen or so in the bunch, bound by rubber bands.

It's almost too late to start onions for transplanting. If you want to grow large, firm onions for use next fall and winter, sow the seeds in pots in late February or early March, indoors. Once they sprout, keep onion seedlings in a sunny, south-facing window, or better yet, a few inches below a fluorescent light.

Transplant the little, grass-like seedlings outdoors as soon as garden soil is dry enough to work thoroughly. If the soil is fertile and well drained, with plenty of sunlight, and watered on a regular basis, you should have nice onions come fall.

Probably the common way to raise onions is to buy them as sets. Onion sets were planted as seeds last year. You can buy them from stores that have them in bins and sold by the pound. Or, you can buy them bare root in garden centers, mail order catalogs, and also from the Chisago County Master Gardeners. This is the second year we have offered bare root onions and we have ordered more after last year's success.

We have Spanish Yellow, Candy, and Copra in bunches of 60-75 plants. Spanish yellow is my favorite onion grown by commercial growers in northern states because it makes a uniform large and sweet tasting bulb. It is globe shaped, matures in about 100 days, and stores from 4-5 months.

Our most popular seller last year was the Candy onion. This yellow onion is the most consistent winner at county fairs across the country. Proof is my picture in this paper last fall holding up a two pound Candy onion. It also matures in about 100 days, but only lasts in storage for about three to four months.

Copra is the best storage onion on the market today. In fact, I am just starting to use my Copra now, as it sweetens as it stores. It is an extra-hard medium sized bulb that dries quickly. It has the highest sugar content of any storage type. The Copra is globe-shaped, yellow and matures in about 110 days.

My suggestion is that you order more than one variety so you will enjoy onions all winter. Another suggestion is that you attend our Spring Fever Classes at the Senior Center, in North Branch, Tuesday, April 22, at 6:30 p.m. I will be teaching a class on "Growing Asparagus and Onions."

If you need more information on our Spring Class Series or need a plant order form, call the office at 651-213-8901 and have the information mailed to you.

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