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[Fullpantry]

Kinda new to these and I have some questions:

1. I was given some onions last summer and I just planted them in the garden and sorta forgot about them until they sprouted about a week ago.I never dug any of the onions up . From what I can gather they are "walking" onions - they develop a bulblet on the end of the stalk that replants itself when the stalk falls over. I've never planted onions before. When do I dig up the mature onions? Do I then just replant the bulblet? Will it overwinter in the ground and sprout in the spring?

2. I planted two apple tree seedlings a week ago - SO excited!! Well, the deer got excited about them too and have chewed off most of the leaves. How can I keep the deer off my trees without having to go to the expense of building a fence around them?

[Skagitgal]

FP;

1. yes to all of the questions on the onions. They do all of the above. We usually plant two of the largest top bulblets from the top, in the fall, and they overwinter and regrow in the spring. Every other year we lift the 'mother' bulb, divide what we find, to increase the onion bed.

Or, do nothing, and the onions will spread by themselves. It is a slow process, it takes 5+ years to build a fair sized patch. But, replanting will give a bigger onion.

2. The trees will have to be protected. I use a double overlap circle of chicken wire. So the deer can't stick their muzzles through and reach the tree. Use a 6 foot high wire and stake in place. There are 10k different 'remedies' to keep deer away, out of, and away from trees and garden.

The only sure cure is a 10' fence. or 12' with razor wire if you have really agressive jumpers.

[Fullpantry]

I was afraid of that! Everyone I've talked to said the same thing about a fence being the only fool-proof way to keep them out.

I think I will dig up one of the onions just to see how it looks and tastes. If we like it, I'll replant the bulblets when the time comes.