The Onions and Leeks Have Sprouted

Summary

The gardener has successfully sprouted Sweet Spanish onions, Heirloom Torpedo Onions, and French Baby Leeks, with plans to plant tomatoes and peppers soon and to use a new, larger portable greenhouse.

Abstract

The 2021 gardening season is underway for a gardener who has reported successful sprouting of onions and leeks started indoors. The gardener's favorites, Sweet Spanish onions, have germinated well, producing sweet, large onions that store well. Additionally, Heirloom Torpedo Onions, discovered on Renee’s Garden© website, have shown some sprouting, although the germination rate seems low. French Baby Leeks from the same source have had a good germination rate. The gardener is preparing to use a new greenhouse to protect the seedlings from freezing temperatures and plans to start planting pepper and tomato seeds soon.

Opinions

The gardener has a preference for Sweet Spanish onions due to their sweetness and storage capability.
There is a positive review of Renee’s Garden© as a source for unusual and high-quality seed varieties.
The gardener expresses some concern about the low germination rate of the Heirloom Torpedo Onions and plans to plant more.
There is an appreciation for the quick growth of French Baby Leeks, allowing for early summer harvest or maturation for fall.
The gardener values the use of a portable greenhouse to manage the transition of seedlings from indoor to outdoor environments, especially considering the fluctuating temperatures in early spring.

The Trusty Gardener-The Onions and Leeks Have Sprouted

2021 Gardening Season Underway/Tomatoes and Peppers Will Be Planted Soon

In early March, I wrote an article about starting onion and leeks seeds indoors. I have mostly good news to report.

As I wrote in the previous story, I planted Sweet Spanish onions, a favorite of mine. As the name implies, they produce wonderfully sweet softball size onions that also store well. I have never found this variety as sets. Some years I will find them as plants, but not always. I normally have good success starting them from seed. As you can see, they have sprouted nicely.

Sweet Spanish Onions/Author Photo

I also planted Heirloom Torpedo Onions (Rossa Lunga di Firenze), a variety I discovered on the Renee’s Garden© website. I previously wrote a story on Renee’s Garden©, a wonderful seed company, which has many unusual and high quality varieties.

These torpedo onions are shaped as the name implies, and are a purple-red sweet onion. They are typically grown in Italy and France. As you can see, the germination rate for these seeds was not very good, unless more continue to sprout. I will probably plant a second container of these.

Red Torpedo Onions/Author Photo

Finally, I planted French Baby Leeks (Primor), also from Renee’s Garden©. These leeks are from France, are non bulbing, and grow to size quickly, so they can be harvested as small plants during the summer, or allowed to mature to full size towards Fall. I had good results with these seeds.

French Baby Leeks/Author Photo

I am getting ready to set up my portable greenhouse on the porch. This year I bought a new, larger greenhouse. As daytime temperatures reach the 40s, I will be able to get these seedlings in the green house at least during the day. This time of the year, you have to be very aware of nighttime temperatures and make sure plants are brought inside if freezing temperatures are forecast.

Soon I will be starting pepper and tomato seeds. Stayed tuned.