More Keys to Success in Your Garden

I’m using this onion “story” as an example, but these principles are applicable to anything you undertake.

Rule of Thumb Planting Date for Onions

Four to six weeks BEFORE your last freeze date in the Spring is the general rule of thumb for planting onions.

Although our average last spring freeze date is between April 1 and April 30th, most folks that I have known around here plant onions in April.  I plant as early as February and into March.

Have a Backup Plan

The keys to being able to go against what is usually done are knowing a bit about what you are doing and planning ahead ——–otherwise known to me as having a backup plan.

Use the Opportunities You are Given

Virginia winters are relatively mild.  Severe cold doesn’t normally last more than a week at a time and then we usually have a week or more of  sunny days in the high 30s or low 40s that are perfect for working out side. I take those opportunities to do whatever needs to be done outside so that if I run into trouble when its time to plant – that work is done.

Things Don’t Always Work as Planned – Keep it in Mind

Last year I ordered the first of my onions to arrive in February.  As it turns out, February was the most unseasonably cold winter month I remember experiencing here. When my onions came a 3 foot blanket of snow covered the garden.

Plan Ahead the Best You Can

Fortunately, I had planned ahead.   Under all that snow was an already prepared and mulched bed that I could easily identify. I shoveled the soft snow off the bed.  Over the next few days I let the sun melt the little that remained.  And then I planted.

Without a Crystal Ball There Will Be Risk

In spite of the cold weather which when consistent can cause early bolting in onions, these first planted onions performed beautifully.  As a matter fact, they were some of the biggest because they had longer to grow before the right amount of daylight triggered bulbing.

Whenever You Plant Onions Keep This in Mind

Onions need plenty of time to grow BEFORE they start to bulb.  Otherwise – you end up with tiny onions.

The Rest of Last Years Story

Because of more snow and severe temperatures, I had to wait 3 weeks before planting the other onions I had received.

Because I never know for sure what the weather is going to be I always schedule two different shipping dates as a precaution.  I don’t want them to have to wait any longer than necessary to be planted.

And by the time my second shipment of onions had arrived last year, the weather was cooperating. So all 1250 onions were in by the end of March.

My Crystal Ball is Still Not Working

Because of all that unusual-to-Virginia weather last year, I decided to check the Farmers Almanac.

They had been right on target for December this year, so I decided to plan according to what they told me about the awful weather predicted for January and February.  I ordered my onions to arrive at the end of February and again almost mid-March.

In spite of the Farmer’s Almanac prediction being on target for January, we’ve still had some beautiful sunny days that I was able to get outside. (Carpe diem!)

Thinking optimistically, I need to order some onions to plant in February on some of those wonderful gift-days that are bright and sunny.   After all March is suppose to be unseasonably warm and I’d like to have at least several hundred onions in the ground by then.

Persistence Can Mean Your Success

An internet acquaintance just told me recently:  “—clearly you are made of tougher stuff.”

As nice a compliment as that was, I have to say I don’t think of myself as being tough by any means.  But I am persistent, which according to the dictionary is “continuing firmly or obstinately in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.”

It can mean the difference between mediocre results and your overwhelming success.

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