Growing onions is one of the more rewarding gardening tasks. It’s a relatively simple process that can yield fantastic results, and it doesn’t require much in terms of supplies or equipment.
Most people are familiar with onions (allium cepa), the edible bulb in the allium family which also includes leeks. Their strong flavor makes them a favorite of chefs in various international cuisines.
Onions are a kitchen staple and despite taking a long time to grow compared to many fast cropping vegetables, as their flavor makes them a favorite in various dishes and since they’re easy to grow – it’s worthwhile popping some in the veggie garden.
Onions will grow in most climates and are frost resistant. If you have ground that grows good onions, this is a most satisfying crop – get the kids involved!
Whether you decide to grow your onions from seed or sets, this guide will help you get the most out of your onion crop.
Onion Varities
As with most fruits and vegetables, there are many variations of the onion that are appealing for different reasons. Onions come in three general colors – white, yellow, and red (purple) – each with their own distinct taste. A bed that grew tomatoes or courgettes (zucchini) previously is ideal as they aren’t too keen on a bed high in nitrogen.
How to Grow Onions
For early onions, sow thinly in drills. Onions like good soil, so to prepare the bed for sowing, rake the soil over very fine, then make it as firm as you can by treading. Rake it and cross rake it to get a fine tilth; the bed is now ready for sowing.
Growing Onions from Seed
Growing onions from seed is an easy way to produce a large harvest with minimal effort. To start, you’ll need to purchase onion seeds from your local garden center or online. Once you have your seeds, prepare the soil by mixing in compost and tilling it up before planting the seeds. You’ll want to space them out evenly so they have plenty of room to grow without competing for nutrients.
If you sow early, there is less chance of the crop being attacked by the onion fly. When the onions are large enough to eat green, thin out and bunch up the thinnings for delicious salads or stews.
Hoe often between the rows.
Growing Onions from Sets
If you don’t feel like waiting for your onions to mature from seed, then growing onions from sets is a great alternative. Onion sets are small bulbs that have already been harvested once and allowed to regrow over the winter months; all you need to do is plant them in spring and wait for them to mature again! When purchasing onion sets, look for ones that are firm and free of mold or mildew; avoid any that seem soft or discolored.
When planting your onion sets, dig a hole twice as deep as the bulb’s height and twice as wide around its circumference (this ensures adequate root growth). Place each set into its own hole at least four inches apart and press down firmly on the soil around each set before watering generously. With proper care (i.e., consistent watering and weeding), you should be able to harvest your onions within 8-10 weeks!
Onions respond well to an occasional dressing of fertilizer hoed in before rain.
Make sure your onions are getting enough water – as well as sunlight. If you keep them well-watered and give them plenty of light, they should start sprouting within a few weeks.
Harvesting your onions
When the onion-tops begin to die off the crop has finished growing. Once they reach maturity (around 6-8 weeks after planting), you can harvest them by gently pulling them up by their stems and leaves. The onions should then be taken up and dried in the sun until no green shows in the tops.
Tie up in bunches, and hang in a cool, dry place ready for use.
Early onions well harvested will keep in splendid condition all through the winter. If you are growing for pickling, do not thin out too much; you will then obtain rows of onions of the right size for pickling. A crop grown this way yields great bulk. Pickled onions are in demand all the winter and especially at Christmas.
Tips for Growing Onions
- Buy onion sets, theyre easier to space and growing onions from seed takes much longer
- Onions bulb up based on day length. So select the right variety for your area
- Plant in a bed that previously grew tomatoes or courgettes (zucchini)
- Growing really big onions by early earlier seasonal planting, with extra fertilizer or compost
- Keep growing bulbs watered or they will split or double if the soil dries out while the bulbs are still forming.
Growing onions is a great way to add flavor, texture, and nutrition to any dish while also supporting sustainable gardening practices. Whether you decide to grow yours from seed or sets isn’t important; what matters most is giving them enough time and attention so they can reach their full potential! With some patience soon enough you’ll be harvesting your own home grown plump, tangy onions.
