officially started our onion seeds, and now the waiting (and watching) begins. Starting onions in January is one of the best ways to ensure strong, healthy plants and a big harvest later in the year—especially if you garden in cooler climates or want full-sized bulbs.

Why Start Onion Seeds in January?

Onions are a long-season crop. Many varieties need 90–120 days to mature, which means they benefit enormously from an early start. By planting seeds in January, you give them time to develop strong root systems and sturdy tops before heading outside.

Benefits of starting onions early include:

• Stronger transplants come spring
• Larger, more consistent bulbs
• Better overall yields
• More variety choices compared to sets

If you’ve ever been disappointed by small onions, starting from seed early is often the missing piece.

What You Need to Start Onion Seeds

Getting onion seeds started doesn’t require fancy equipment, but consistency is key.

Supplies we used:

• Onion seeds (long-day or intermediate-day, depending on your location)
• Seed-starting trays or shallow containers
• Quality seed-starting mix (light and well-draining)
• Water mister or gentle watering can
• Grow lights or a sunny greenhouse window
• Labels (future you will thank you)

How We Started Our Onion Seeds

1. Filled trays with seed-starting mix, lightly moist but not soggy
2. Sowed seeds on the surface, spacing them about ½ inch apart
3. Covered lightly with soil (onion seeds need light but still like a thin covering)
4. Watered gently to avoid washing seeds away
5. Placed trays in a warm, bright spot to encourage germination

Onion seeds usually germinate in 7–14 days, and that’s where the real excitement begins. (Stay tuned for updates!)

Caring for Onion Seedlings

Once your onions sprout, a little routine care goes a long way.

• Light: Provide 12–14 hours of light daily to prevent leggy seedlings
• Water: Keep soil evenly moist, never soaked
• Airflow: A small fan helps prevent damping-off and strengthens stems
• Trimming: As seedlings grow, trim tops back to about 4 inches to encourage thicker growth

This trimming step surprises a lot of new gardeners, but it makes a huge difference in transplant strength.

What Happens Next?

Now we wait—and watch. Over the next several weeks, these tiny sprouts will turn into sturdy seedlings ready for hardening off and eventual transplanting into the garden.

Starting onion seeds in January always feels like a promise of spring. Even when it’s cold outside, those green shoots remind us that the growing season is already underway.

If you’ve been thinking about growing onions from seed, now is the perfect time to start. We can’t wait to see what happens next—and we’ll be sharing updates as these onions grow right along with the rest of the garden.

Have you started any seeds yet this year? Let us know what’s growing in your winter setup! 🌱