The red onions were a little disappointing this year. I got only eleven and a half pounds of them, and they're kind of runty in size to boot. Mother Nature didn't choose to give me a bumper crop of nice big ones as she did last year. So it goes. I'm grateful for what we got.
The yellow ones came in at fifty-one pounds, and most of them are large to medium in size. A very nice crop. (I did plant twice as many yellow onions as red.)
Starting early this summer I pulled some of both varieties as they were growing to use as scallions or, as they got bigger, for all my needs so I've really been using part of what I grew for three months already. I'm sure the yellow onions will get us through the winter, but I have a feeling the red ones aren't going to last very long.
* * * * * * * * * *
A couple of our roof lines have been existing (not very efficiently) without gutters. We have taken total advantage of our daughter and her man and (coerced begged bribed forced pressured tricked strong-armed persuaded) asked if they would help with the project.
We had rain most of the morning but this afternoon turned into a lovely fall day. Just the kind of day to get the scaffolding up and in place to start the project tomorrow. Another set of boards will go almost on the tippy-top of the scaffolding to make hanging the gutters as easy as possible.
Good thing one of us (and it isn't me or Papa Pea or our daughter) was a professional window washer in a previous life. You just never know what a particular talent is going to get you into!
Your onions look great nice and firm, our yellows out preformed the red, I also find the yellow ones keep better although I have noticed a few of the earlier ones starting to go soft.
ReplyDeleteDawn - I think I'm more disappointed with my red onions this year because last year they were so plentiful and large . . . and lasted just as long as the yellows which, I know, is unusual! Go figure.
DeleteWhat a good onion harvest you had, and you have a cellar to store them in which is handy. We did grow a few onions but they got overgrown with weeds so were very small, but what they lack in size is compensated by the very strong taste they have!
ReplyDeleteVera - Yes, onions greatly dislike having to grow in competition with weeds. (Bugs the heck out of 'em, for some reason!) I think a really strong onion is sometimes indicative of lack of moisture, too. Do you think yours got enough?
DeleteWhat kind of red onion do you grow? Mine never store--I have to use them fresh. I'd love to get a variety that lasts longer than the weather.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you have help for your gutter project. I always hate to see anyone climbing up that high!
Sue - Funny thing is I couldn't find a red onion I liked the sound of in any of my seed catalogs so I ended up buying a brown paper sack of them (no variety label) from our local hardware store. (I don't think I'll be doing that again.) Here's the strange thing . . . the ones that were so good last year were planted from two 99 cent bags I picked up at Menards!! So, ?????
DeleteOur onions did terrible this year, as well as our pie pumpkin and butternut. Have no idea why, other than the drought and lack of rain water.
ReplyDeleteKristina - Yep, lack of moisture puts the kabosh on a lot of crops, no doubt about it. Darn. I have what looks like a really nice crop of pie pumpkins still out there on the vines, for which I'm grateful. I didn't do squash this year (hubby's not crazy about it anyway) because of lack of space.
DeleteI never have much luck with red onions, even when everything is good in the garden (and when did that last happen?) I see you are breaking in your daughter's Main Squeeze. Good man!
ReplyDeleteSusan - I've always had pretty good luck with red onions even though folks say they're hard to get to grow well. This year they aren't really awful, just not measuring up to the past year's supply.
DeleteRegarding using our daughter's man's talents, if anybody's hanging around, we put them to work! ;o}
Putting people to work is a very good way to evaluate their character!
ReplyDeleteFiona - He's proving himself to be worth his weight in gold!
DeleteThis was our first year to grow onions (yellow) and they grew awesome. But they aren't storing well, most have sprouted already. Any possibility you'll do a post on curing them? I'd love to know what I did wrong.
ReplyDeletehoosier girl - Am sending you an e-mail . . . hope to get it off today.
DeleteI cut off the roots of my store bought onions and plant them, got 5 medium sized yellow onions but then in California you can garden all year round. Just bought 2 six packs of broccoli only to realize I read the tag on one of the packs and went for containers behind that one cause they looked healthier ............. oops I bought cauliflower, which did not do as good for me in the past. Back to the Nursery I need to go.
ReplyDeleteTombstone Livestock - I wonder if your climate is too warm for cauliflower as they like to grow and head out in cool weather. Maybe you could grow them in January when your temps would be conducive to them growing!
DeleteThe onion harvest looks very nice to me.
ReplyDeleteThe only onion I have ever grown that got a big size is Candy. I didn't even try them this year.
Hope you get the gutters up! Bet you cook a big, delicious dinner for that good help.
Glenda - I did indeed cook a big meal for them . . . meat loaf, mashed potatoes with gravy and green beans!
DeleteYour onion crop looks awesome! I've never grown them. Maybe, I'll try next year.
ReplyDeleteLaurie - You may have to look for a variety that grows well in your very warm, southern climate but I'll bet you can grow some.
Delete