236 Gardening 
bed. In doing this, sow seed about 10 weeks before 
planting time. Transplant once to other flats as soon as 
seedlings are 2 inches tall, and space them so that they 
are about 1 inch apart. As soon as frosts are over, 
harden the seedlings and transplant them to the garden. 
In the South, seed is very generally planted in the 
autumn and the crop grows during the mild winter. 
Even in some sections of the northern states, seed may be 
sown in the early autumn; the young plants live over 
winter and start growth early, yielding an early crop of 
bunch onions, or later, dry onions. 
All onions require a rich and well-drained soil. Success 
in growing good dry bulbs from seed depends on sow- 
ing the seed as soon as possible in spring, on thinning 
early so that the growing plants are not crowded, on 
keeping the weeds from even making a start in the onion 
plantings, and on frequent but shallow surface cultivation. 
With this treatment, the plants make rapid growth 
during the cool spring season and form bulbs of good size. 
It is, however, somewhat difficult to grow good bulbs in 
localities where the summers are cool and damp, for in 
such places the plants tend to remain green and leafy. 
The proper maturing of onion bulbs depends on the 
weather and upon their treatment. If the bulbs reach a 
good size by the time hot weather arrives, the tops turn 
yellow and begin to die, and the bulb enters a resting 
condition. The bulb is, of course, still fleshy and 
juicy inside, and it contains at least one living bud 
or “heart.” As long as this bud remains dormant, the 
bulb “keeps”; but if it resumes growth, the bulb soon 
becomes useless as food. 
