When to Start Seeds Indoors

Question

I live in zone 5. When should I start seeds indoors and then transplant to garden for big onions? Last year I planted plants in late April. Onions were small but good. This year I am seeding indoors and will transplant. Can I transplant my onion seedlings when there is still frost? Or do I need to wait?  Or would it be better to sow outdoor in February as some sites suggest?

Answer 1

There are a wide variety of things that go into producing larger onions. The first step would be to make sure you are planting the right kind of onion. In your area, you want long-day onions.

I would be hesitant to plant seeds or transplants out in February in your zone. Depending on where in zone 5 you live, you can still be experiencing some pretty deep freezes in Feb. That being said, you can start onions indoors with the plan to set them out in March, regardless of frost conditions.

This article has some great tips for growing onions in a Northern climate:
https://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/onion.cfm