Originally Posted by John Ladasky

zxcvbob wrote:
Should I plant them now, or wait until fall, or maybe next year (I know
they'll only have 50% germination at best next year.)

I'm in Minnesota, land of the almost midnight sun, and I'm not sure what
the extremely long days will do to a bunching onion seedling. The
variety is Crimson Forest.

Thanks,
Bob

I'm in California, and I am holding on to my bunching onion seeds until
the fall. Day length is not my reason for keeping the seeds --
temperature is.

My vegetable garden book lists minimum, optimal, and maximum soil
temperatures for the germination of several types of seeds. Onions
prefer lower temperatures. Minimum temperature = 32°F; optimal =
80°F; maximum = 95°F.

The book cautions that soil temperatures can exceed air temperatures by
as much as 20 degrees. I wish I had read that part before wasting
seeds and water. Air temperatures in my area haven't gone above 85°
yet this season, but I'm sure that the soil has gotten significantly
hotter than that.

I tried getting a second round of carrots, coriander, and chicory
started three weeks ago. I have ONE new coriander seedling. The
carrot seeds have the same maximum temperature as the onion seeds.

At the same time, I started tomato and cantaloupe seeds. They have
germinated readily.

Hope that helps!

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