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Onion sets are now back in stock and shipping just in time for Fall planting! There are so many benefits to growing onions in your garden. The medicinal benefits of onions have been recognized since ancient times when they were used to treat headaches, heart disease, and mouth sores. They are packed with B vitamins and C and they contain over 25 antioxidants. This combination of powerful nutrients helps fight diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Onions are even believed to help prevent osteoporosis by increasing bone density and reducing oxidative stress. Onions are easy to grow and taste sweeter fresh from the garden!  Yellow Onion Sets Does planting onions deter garden pests? There are so also many benefits to planting them in your garden. Similarly to garlic, the naturally occurring compounds in onions can deter many pests from infesting your garden. The smell of onions helps to deter rabbits, maggots, cabbage loopers, and many other insects. They are most effective as a pest control when used with companion planting. Companion planting is the method of pairing specific types of plants next to one another to increase their health, growth, and resistance to pests. The best plants to companion plant with onions include carrots, lettuce, chamomile, beets, cabbage and parsnips. Consider planting your onion bulbs as a border to your garden bed with these companion veggies nearby. How do I grow the best onions? The key to growing large and juicy onions is to plant early enough in your growing season and to plant in very soft soil or compost. Winter onions can be planted any time the ground can be worked – usually between October and December in most climates. In Back to Eden Gardens we recommend planting your onion sets about 1 inch below the surface, 4-5 inches apart in the soft compost below the woodchips. The woodchip covering will help retain moisture, keep the soil insulated, and prevent weeds. Add an extra layer of raw woodchip mulch if you live in colder climates. If your Back to Eden Garden is new and your soil is compact below consider a raised bed with at least 6-12 inches of compost for your onions. If your soil is not already rich, add an organic fertilizer to encourage growth. The more soft and rich the soil is, the better your onions will grow. Planting onions in compact soil and too short of a growing season are the biggest mistakes gardeners usually make. Onion sets will store in a cold dry place for up to three weeks. So make sure your gardens are ready with plenty of woodchips and compost laid down in the fall before you plant!  How to Plant Onion Sets in a Vegetable Garden Back to Eden Gardening has provided epic results after our first year garden. In the Fall of 2019, we added a layer of newspaper, 4 inches of composted horse manure, and 6-12 inches of wood chip mulch onto a yard covered in tenacious grass and weeds. One year later, we are growing an organic garden that is overflowing with vegetables and fruits. Our first year garden was a success because we were able to get several FREE deliveries of wood chips after signing up for FREE to the Chip Drop App.
Fall is the perfect season to start using the Back to Eden Gardening method. Adding wood chips to your new or old garden plot will act as a slow release fertilizer, enriching the soil with rain and snow during the winter month for better gardening in the Spring. Make sure to read our Fall Back to Eden Gardening To Do List for tips on preparing your garden. Please remember that Back to Eden Gardening is a no-till gardening method. Not tilling the soil preserves and prevents the loss of topsoil and allows living microbes in the soil to cycle nutrients and maintain fertility.
As you can see in the photos, the transformation above ground is amazing but what is happening below the surface (in your soil) is key to epic gardening results! The soil before adding wood chip mulch was anaerobic hardpan clay and sand. One year later, the soil is full of life including worms and beneficial microorganisms. These results are possible when you add wood chips to your garden. You can see that the wood chip mulch begins to decompose quickly breaking down into beautiful soil.
We have tested out several wood chip delivery apps and by far the quickest and largest delivery came by using the Chip Drop App! This free app helps gardeners connect with local arborists to get a giant pile of wood chips delivered to your address for FREE. It is super quick and easy to use so hurry and sign up today!  ChipDrop Free Delivery of Wood Chips It was 10 years ago that Mark McOmber installed a wood chip demonstration garden for the documentary BACK TO EDEN. During the last decade, Mark has grown his own vegetables and fruits while practicing the Back to Eden Gardening method. Today, Mark is launching his own YouTube channel where he will be uploading videos about "Living Life" and resting with God in the home and garden! Watch the first video uploaded by Mark that shows how the soil has completely transformed in the last 10 years. Personally, I got goosebumps! Trust me, you have to see this! In this 25-minute video Mark also shares a plethora of gardening tips that he has learned over the years -- from DIY planting tools to teaching what wood chips are best to use in your garden. If you have any questions, contact Mark McOmber who will answer any questions you may have!
Garlic is now back in stock and shipping just in time for Fall planting! There are so many benefits of growing garlic in your garden. During this time especially, the antibacterial and antiviral properties of garlic are one of the top benefits. The antibacterial properties of garlic can reduce the number of colds you get and help in the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections, asthma and shortness of breath. Garlic helps with bacterial, fungal, worm, yeast, viral infections, and can help prevent food poisoning when it kills bacteria, like E. coli and salmonella. In your garden, garlic deters pests including aphids, spider mites, Japanese beetles, snails, fruit tree borers, and so much more! Moles, voles, rabbits, deer, and mice are even deterred by the smell of garlic! What variety should I grow? First, decide if you should grow hardneck or softneck garlic. The "neck" refers to the stalk that grows up from the center of the bulb. Hardnecks are rigid while softnecks can be braided at maturity. Hardnecks are recommended if you live in Northeastern US and Canada. Softnecks are recommended if you live in milder climates. Then you will want to decide on flavor whether you like mild, complex, or spicy garlic. It is up to your personal preference! Garlic is so easy to grow we promise you will want to grow it every year! How do I plant garlic?
Watermelons might be the most challenging plant when it comes to knowing when to harvest. The best practice is to keep track of the date you planted and the days to maturity based on the variety of seeds. This way you can mark on your calendar a date to know when to start looking for the following clues:
On the East Coast, Mark McOmber who was featured in the documentary Back to Eden is growing the most epic watermelons. Mark's favorite heirloom varieties of watermelon is Crimson Sweet. After 10 years of Back to Eden gardening with wood chips, Mark harvested a 56 pound Crimson Sweet watermelon! Watch Mark's video to learn how to harvest watermelons, cantaloupes, and honeydew. |
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Dana Richardson & Sarah Zentz, Producers of Back to Eden Film
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