{"id":3030,"date":"2026-09-19T18:40:44","date_gmt":"2026-09-19T18:40:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/?p=3030"},"modified":"2026-09-19T19:25:22","modified_gmt":"2026-09-19T19:25:22","slug":"boiling-water-for-onion-seeds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/boiling-water-for-onion-seeds\/","title":{"rendered":"The Boiling Water Method for Onion Seeds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n<div class=\"kk-star-ratings kksr-auto kksr-align-left kksr-valign-top\"\n    data-payload='{&quot;align&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;3030&quot;,&quot;slug&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;valign&quot;:&quot;top&quot;,&quot;ignore&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;reference&quot;:&quot;auto&quot;,&quot;class&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;count&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;legendonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;readonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;score&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;starsonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;best&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;gap&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;greet&quot;:&quot;Rate this&quot;,&quot;legend&quot;:&quot;0\\\/5 - (0 votes)&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;24&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;The Boiling Water Method for Onion Seeds&quot;,&quot;width&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;_legend&quot;:&quot;{score}\\\/{best} - ({count} {votes})&quot;,&quot;font_factor&quot;:&quot;1.25&quot;}'>\n            \n<div class=\"kksr-stars\">\n    \n<div class=\"kksr-stars-inactive\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"1\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"2\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"3\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"4\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"5\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n<div class=\"kksr-stars-active\" style=\"width: 0px;\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n                \n\n<div class=\"kksr-legend\" style=\"font-size: 19.2px;\">\n            <span class=\"kksr-muted\">Rate this<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<div class=\"tldr-box\" style=\"background: #f4f9f4; padding: 20px; border-left: 5px solid #4CAF50; margin-bottom: 30px; border-radius: 4px;\">\n<h3>\ud83d\udccc Quick Summary: Growing Onions from Seed<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Pre-Sprouting &amp; Varieties:<\/strong> Many growers pre-sprout seeds in damp paper towels or condiment cups to ensure viability. Popular varieties mentioned: <em>Exhibition, Candy, Barito, Yalta, Banko, Carmen<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sowing Technique:<\/strong> The &#8220;boiling water method&#8221; is highly recommended. Pour near-boiling water directly over the potting soil to pasteurize and pre-heat the seedbed <em>before<\/em> placing the seeds. <strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong> Do not add vermiculite to onion soil!<\/li>\n<li><strong>Containers:<\/strong> Use 0.5L (16 oz) cups or cut 5-liter water jugs leaving about 8-10 cm (3-4 inches) of soil depth.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Care &amp; Trimming:<\/strong> Keep seedlings in a very cool spot (12-15\u00b0C \/ 53-59\u00b0F) close to the glass without extra grow lights. Give them a &#8220;haircut&#8221; (trim the green tops) to keep them under 20 cm (8 inches) and snip the roots slightly before transplanting out.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pest Alert:<\/strong> Sticky layers on harvested onions indicate a Thrips infestation. Black mold under the skin is fungal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr style=\"border: none; border-top: 1px solid #ccc; margin: 15px 0;\" \/>\n<p><strong>Jump to section:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul style=\"list-style: none; padding: 0; display: flex; gap: 15px; flex-wrap: wrap;\">\n<li>\ud83d\udd17 <a href=\"#presprout\">Pre-Sprouting &amp; Seed Viability<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\ud83d\udd17 <a href=\"#sowing\">The Boiling Water Sowing Method<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\ud83d\udd17 <a href=\"#containers\">Containers &amp; Soil Mix<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\ud83d\udd17 <a href=\"#care\">Temperature, Light &amp; Feeding<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\ud83d\udd17 <a href=\"#planting\">Haircuts &amp; Transplanting Out<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\ud83d\udd17 <a href=\"#pests\">Diagnosing Onion Pests<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"presprout\">Pre-Sprouting &amp; Seed Viability<\/h2>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">LavandaN (Natalia) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Moscow Region, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-date\">\ud83d\udcc5 March 1, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I sowed onion seeds back in February. Three varieties: <em>Carmen<\/em> and <em>Danilovsky<\/em> in large cups. Only a single, pathetic little blade sprouted! Now I&#8217;m thinking about pre-soaking them in the paper towel\/baggie method.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Aleksan9ra (Lyudmila) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Moscow Region, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-date\">\ud83d\udcc5 March 2, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I sowed <em>Yalta<\/em> onions from Tumanov&#8217;s seed shop. The germination rate was 100%, and the little loops popped up in literally 5 days. Tomorrow I&#8217;m sowing <em>White Yalta<\/em> and <em>Red Yalta<\/em>, hoping for the same results.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Russi (Anna) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Ramenskoye, Moscow Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-date\">\ud83d\udcc5 March 3, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I soaked my onion seeds overnight in a hydrogen peroxide solution (1 tbsp peroxide + 9 tbsp water, saw it on YouTube). Then I kept them in damp paper towels on a heat mat for two days. The germination rates varied wildly! My <em>Neman<\/em> variety sprouted like a forest, while <em>Francisco<\/em> had zero sprouts, and <em>Daytona<\/em> only had 1-2 seeds crack open. Seed viability is so unpredictable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"sowing\">The Boiling Water Sowing Method<\/h2>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Aleksan9ra (Lyudmila) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Moscow Region, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-date\">\ud83d\udcc5 March 1, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>When sowing onion seeds, it is crucial to sow them on a perfectly flat surface. Press the seeds slightly into the dirt and cover them with an even layer of soil (no more than 1 cm \/ 0.4 inches deep). This creates identical conditions for all seeds and ensures uniform germination.<\/p>\n<p>Proper watering is also key. I use the <strong>boiling water method<\/strong>: after flattening the soil in the container, water it with very hot water (around 70\u00b0C \/ 158\u00b0F). Wait until the soil cools down to about 50-55\u00b0C (120-130\u00b0F)\u2014test it with the back of your hand; if it&#8217;s tolerable, you can sow. Pour the hot water carefully (I use a spoon) so it spreads evenly without digging holes in the dirt.<\/p>\n<p>Sow the dry seeds on this hot seedbed, press them in, cover with dry soil, lightly tamp it down, and mist the top layer with a spray bottle. Cover with a plastic bag and place in a warm spot.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">El_ena38 (Elena) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Novokuznetsk, Siberia (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-date\">\ud83d\udcc5 March 1, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>On Feb 17, I soaked onion seeds of various varieties (<em>Exhibition, Candy, Barito<\/em> + 3 others) in small plastic condiment\/sauce cups. I kept them there until they started to crack open. I originally planned to carefully place each sprouted seed into paper towel rolls with soil, but that is way too time-consuming.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, I took the easy route: I grabbed six 0.5L (16 oz) plastic cups, filled them with soil, and tamped the surface down flat using the bottom of another empty cup. I spread the pre-sprouted seeds on top as evenly as I could (wet seeds stick together, so it&#8217;s hard to separate them individually). Covered them with soil, tamped it down slightly again, and sealed the cups with plastic wrap.<\/p>\n<p>By the third day, green sprouts were already showing! Huge thanks to Lyudmila for the tips.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2021_03\/P_20210301_222504.jpg.52e811d940e67bdcf7a39a94ed4c16e2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2021_03\/P_20210301_222504.thumb.jpg.1af3e22db5af47839d0c61743c9bbc90.jpg\" alt=\"Onion seedlings sprouting in plastic cups\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"containers\">Containers &amp; Soil Mix<\/h2>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">LenaD (Lena) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Vegetable Grower<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Igra, Udmurtia, Russia (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-date\">\ud83d\udcc5 March 2, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I&#8217;m planning to sow onions tomorrow. Should I add vermiculite to the potting mix for onions, or is that unnecessary?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Aleksan9ra (Lyudmila) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Moscow Region, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-date\">\ud83d\udcc5 March 2, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>There is no need to add vermiculite to onion soil. Don&#8217;t do it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Dyudyuka (Anastasia) <span class=\"author-stats\">\ud83c\udf3f Beginner<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-date\">\ud83d\udcc5 March 2, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>What kind of containers do you use for onion seedlings? I want to cut a 5-liter plastic water jug, but I&#8217;m not sure how much height to leave. I thought you needed at least 15 cm (6 inches) of soil?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Aleksan9ra (Lyudmila) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Moscow Region, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-date\">\ud83d\udcc5 March 2, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>1-gallon plastic water jug is perfect! Cut it so the overall height of the container is about 7-8 inches, but you only need to fill it with about <strong>3 inches of soil<\/strong>. That is more than enough for onion seedlings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"care\">Temperature, Light &amp; Feeding<\/h2>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Vesennyaya (Lyubov) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Vegetable Grower<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Voronezh, Russia (USDA Zone 5b)<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-date\">\ud83d\udcc5 March 1, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>What is the best temperature for onion seedlings? If my greenhouse is around 15\u00b0C (59\u00b0F) during the day and drops to 12-13\u00b0C (53-55\u00b0F) at night, will they be okay out there?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Aleksan9ra (Lyudmila) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Moscow Region, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-date\">\ud83d\udcc5 March 2, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Lyuba, those temperatures are absolutely perfect for onion seedlings! Once they germinate, they need to be moved to the coolest, brightest spot possible. If the greenhouse gets too hot on sunny days, just provide a little shade and mist them to increase humidity.<\/p>\n<p>As for feeding: start fertilizing about 10 days after germination. Start with a weak solution (1g of fertilizer per 1 liter of water) and gradually increase it to 3g per liter. This year I bought a specialized &#8220;Agricola for Onions &amp; Garlic&#8221; fertilizer, I&#8217;ll alternate it with urea.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Aleksan9ra (Lyudmila) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Moscow Region, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-date\">\ud83d\udcc5 March 1, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Elena (El_ena38), now that your seeds have sprouted, you need to move them to the coolest possible spot right up against the window glass. <strong>Do not put them under grow lamps.<\/strong> You can place a plastic bag with holes over them to increase humidity. As they grow a bit taller, you can sprinkle a little dry soil around the base.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">LyudmilaF (Lyudmila) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Vegetable Grower<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-date\">\ud83d\udcc5 March 2, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>How long do they need to stay in that &#8220;coolest spot&#8221;?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Aleksan9ra (Lyudmila) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Moscow Region, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-date\">\ud83d\udcc5 March 2, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Until their first &#8220;haircut&#8221; (trimming the tops).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"planting\">Haircuts &amp; Transplanting Out<\/h2>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Nelly <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Fryazino, Moscow Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-date\">\ud83d\udcc5 March 2, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Ladies, so the onion seedlings grow, I give them a &#8220;haircut&#8221; (trim the tops) down to the edge of the cup&#8230; but then they grow back. How many times do I trim them? And how do you plant them out? One by one? Sounds like a pain in the neck! Do you tie them to little sticks? And what if they flop over on the ground?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">SvetaR (Svetlana) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Moscow Region, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-date\">\ud83d\udcc5 March 2, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I just pictured someone tying onion blades to tiny sticks&#8230; \ud83d\ude02<\/p>\n<p>Nelly, planting onion seedlings is super fast. You literally poke a hole in the dirt with your finger, shove the seedling in, and sweep the dirt back with that same finger. Last year I planted two 6-meter (20 ft) beds incredibly fast. It&#8217;s a bit of a squatting workout, but it goes quick. If they flop over, don&#8217;t worry about it. Just don&#8217;t let them dry out. The onions will figure out how to stand up on their own.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Aleksan9ra (Lyudmila) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Moscow Region, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-date\">\ud83d\udcc5 March 2, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Here is my planting method: First, I moisten the soil in the container and carefully pull the block of seedlings out. If there is a massive root ball and it doesn&#8217;t fall apart, I actually snip off the bottom part of the roots (those are the old roots anyway). I also give the green tops one final trim so they aren&#8217;t longer than 18-20 cm (7-8 inches).<\/p>\n<p>In the garden bed, I make three long trenches. I quickly lay the individual seedlings out along the trench at the proper spacing. Then, holding the seedling upright with one hand, I pull the dirt back over it with the other. It goes surprisingly fast!<\/p>\n<p>I don&#8217;t plant the super thin, wimpy ones. I gather them in a bunch and bury the whole bunch at the edge of the bed. They gain strength quickly, and I use them as backup replacements if mole crickets eat any of my main plants. To avoid wimpy seedlings in the first place, you need to trim them frequently, feed them well, and keep them watered.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Nelly <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Fryazino, Moscow Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-date\">\ud83d\udcc5 March 2, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I was so stressed out planting onions last year. I later read that you are supposed to submerge the entire root ball in a bucket of water and pull the seedlings apart while they are underwater so they don&#8217;t tear. This year I&#8217;m just going to plant them in bunches anyway, since I just want them for white bunching onions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"pests\">Diagnosing Pests: Thrips &amp; Mold<\/h2>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">El_ena38 (Elena) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Novokuznetsk, Siberia (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-date\">\ud83d\udcc5 March 3, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I have a question about my harvested onions. Sometimes, underneath the dry outer skin, the next fleshy layer feels dense and incredibly sticky. Is this a disease? Also, sometimes there is black powdery mold on the inside wrappers. How do I treat this?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Aleksan9ra (Lyudmila) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Moscow Region, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-date\">\ud83d\udcc5 March 3, 2021<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Elena, if the layer is sticky, that is a 100% guarantee of a Thrips infestation. You need to treat your crop with a serious systemic insecticide before planting next season (though you can&#8217;t eat the green tops if you do). Alternatively, you can heat-treat the onion sets in hot water before planting, but you have to peel the outer skins off first.<\/p>\n<p>The black powder is a fungal mold disease. If you only have a few bulbs like that, it&#8217;s best just to discard them and not plant them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\ud83d\udccc Quick Summary: Growing Onions from Seed Pre-Sprouting &amp; Varieties: Many growers pre-sprout seeds in damp paper towels or condiment cups to ensure viability. Popular varieties mentioned: Exhibition, Candy, Barito, Yalta, Banko, Carmen. Sowing Technique: The &#8220;boiling water method&#8221; is highly recommended. Pour near-boiling water directly over the potting soil to pasteurize and pre-heat the &#8230; <a title=\"The Boiling Water Method for Onion Seeds\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/boiling-water-for-onion-seeds\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about The Boiling Water Method for Onion Seeds\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3030,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[645],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3030","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-onion-and-garlic"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3030","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3030"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3030\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3043,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3030\/revisions\/3043"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3030"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3030"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3030"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3030"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}