We get our onion sets from Dixondale Farms in south Texas. Karl and I planted onion seed one October ,after constructing a hoop house, to protect the seedlings and found it way too much trouble to raise onions from seed. The best thing that came out of that was the experience we had together building the hoop house. This is one of my fond memories. We only planted a small amount of seed. Did you know it costs about $6,000 for the seed to plant an acre of onion sets. Considering each seed is like a grain of salt, that will make a lot of sets. We receive periodic messages from Bruce the Onionman at Dixondale Farms. His most recent shared how healthy is is to eat onions.

"And now our feature presentation: did you know that eating onions is actually good for your health?
It's true. Not only are onions nutritious and delicious, they can actually have health benefits. Back in the Colonial era, American settlers turned to onions to treat their colds, asthma, and coughs of all kinds. In Chinese medical tradition, onions have long been used as remedies for angina, coughs, bacterial infections, and breathing problems.
Quercetin's Role Sure, these are folk traditions, but they do have a scientific basis. It just so happens that onions contain a natural compound called quercetin, a so-called phytochemical which is part of the pigment found in not just onions but in apples as well. This powerful chemical is an antioxidant (a substance that protects against harmful substances called free radicals that damage tissue), and acts as a natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory.
The antihistamine action explains why onions help respiratory ailments like asthma, coughs, and the like; and the anti-inflammatory properties make it a good pain reliever for ailments like arthritis. Quercetin can also benefit men worried about prostate issues, and may also help reduce fatigue, depression, and anxiety symptoms.
But Wait, There's More! In addition to quercetin, sulfides called organosulfur compounds are present in onions that may help lower blood lipids and blood pressure. The abundant flavinoids in onions have been shown scientifically to protect against cardiovascular ailments, and other chemicals in onions suppress clotting.
Some of these protective phytochemicals build up in the body after long term usage, and tend to be more highly concentrated in the more pungent onion varieties. So what does that mean? Why, that you should eat lots of onions, of course, and the stronger tasting, the better!
Happy onion-eating,"