Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 2: Preparing for planting
• Part 2 of 2: Planting the onions
• Tips
• Warnings

People who have a vegetable garden like to grow onions, because you can prepare anything with them, they are easy to grow and they require relatively little space. In addition, they grow quickly, so you can harvest, dry and store the first onions in spring for the winter.

To step

Part 1 of 2: Preparing for planting

1. Choose a type of onion you want to grow. Like most fruits and vegetables, the onion has many variations, each with its own specialty. Onions come in three colors: white, yellow and red / purple, each with its own typical flavor. Onions can be classified into two growing types: long day and short day onions. Long-day onions are so called because they germinate when the days last between 14-16 hours (end of spring and summer), while short-day onions germinate when the days last 10-12 hours (winter and early spring). ).
   • Which grow type onion works best depends on its geographic location relative to the equator.
   • Yellow onions have a golden color and a slightly sweet taste. White onions are tart and a bit more sour than their yellow counterpart. Red onions have a purplish color and are more often eaten fresh than cooked.
2. Decide how to plant the onions. In general, there are two popular ways to grow onions: with onion sets (tubers) or seeds. Gardeners prefer onion sets as they are more resistant to inclement weather than seeds. But if you want and can grow the seeds indoors and then put them outside, you can also grow them from seeds.
   • You can choose to grow onions by grafting, but that is not always successful and is much more difficult than just using seeds.
   • Visit a local nursery to get advice on onion sets and seeds that will thrive in the region where you live.
3. The moment of cultivation. Onions are difficult to grow if not planted at the right time. If it is too cold, they can die or waste energy on blossoms instead of the tubers in the spring. If you are going to sow seeds, start indoors, at least 6 weeks before setting them out. Onions can be planted outside in late March or early April, or when the temperature no longer falls below -7 ° C.
4. Choose the right place. Onions aren't too picky about growing conditions, but they do have some preferences. Choose a spot with plenty of space and full in the sun. Onions can get very large if they have enough space, so keep in mind that the more space you give them, the bigger they get. Do not plant them in an area shaded by taller plants or trees.
   • Onions do well in raised planting beds, so if you don't have a garden or don't have space in it, you can build a separate planting bed to grow onions.
5. Prepare the soil. Although it does take some planning, it is best to prepare the soil where you are going to plant a few months in advance so that the onion harvest will eventually improve. Preferably start in the fall with tilling and fertilizing. If the soil contains a lot of stones, sand or clay, you can add some potting soil to restore the balance. Also measure the pH value of the soil and add substances if necessary to ensure a pH value between 6 and 7.5.
   • It is best to measure and replenish the soil at least a month before planting so that additives have time to work on the soil and form a good basis for onion cultivation.

Part 2 of 2: Planting the onions

1. Prepare the soil. When you're ready to plant, you can dig the soil up to 6 inches deep and add a layer of fertilizer with phosphorus (1 cup per 6 feet). Use a mixture of 10-20-10 or 0-20-0 for an extra boost to grow onions. Make sure to remove weeds where you plan to plant.
2. Dig dimples. Make sure there is no more than an inch of soil over the bulbs or seeds when planting. If the tuber is buried too much, it will be limited in its growth. Plant onion bulbs 10 to 15 cm apart, and seeds 2.5 to 5 cm apart. When the onions start to grow, you can transplant them and spread them further apart so that they can continue to grow.
3. Plant the onions. Place the seeds in the holes you dug and cover them with 1.75cm to 2.5cm soil. Use your hands or feet to press the soil firmly on the onions. They grow better in compacted soil than in loose soil. Finally, pour a little water over them and they are ready to grow!
   • Transplanted onions need more water than bulbs or seeds, so give them some extra moisture if you plant them that way.
4. Keep track of your onion cultivation. Onions are relatively delicate plants because they have a brittle root system that can be easily damaged or displaced by weeds or pulling them out. Use a hoe to cut weeds, instead of pulling them out of the ground; By pulling it out you can take the roots of the onions with you and make the growth process more difficult. Water the onions 1 inch per week and add nitrogen fertilizer once a month for extra nutrients. One month after planting, add a layer of bedding between plants to retain moisture and control weed growth.
   • If you want to grow onions with a sweeter flavor, you can give them more water.
   • Pull out onions that are about to bloom. Onions in bloom do not develop further, neither in size nor in taste.
5. Harvest the onions. Onions are ripe when the top is golden yellow. Bend the tops over so they lie flat on the floor. As a result, the nutrients are used for the development of the bulbs, instead of the shoots. After 24 hours, the tops will turn brown and the onions are ready to be pulled out of the ground. Remove them from the ground and cut the top off at an inch above the bulb and roots. Let the onions dry in the sun for two days and then put them indoors in a dry place for 2-4 weeks to dry further.
   • Store onions in stockings or on a wire so that air can get to them while they dry. This way you can keep them longer and the taste is preserved.
   • Sweet onions have a shorter shelf life because they contain more moisture, so eat them first to prevent them from spoiling.
   • Discard onions that are starting to deteriorate, or cut off the bad pieces and use them so they don't spread disease to the other onions they are stored with.

Tips

• To start your onion garden well on time, you can plant onion bulbs indoors in containers with moist potting compost two weeks before you want to transplant the onions into your garden. Place the containers indoors so that the bulbs can germinate and develop a root system before moving them outside.
• Plant radishes between onions to prevent diseases and pests.

Warnings

• Although onions are generally pest resistant, they can sometimes fall prey to root maggots that eat tubers. Pesticide soap can solve the problem. Follow the directions on the packaging carefully.
• Different onion varieties need different hours of daylight. Some varieties do better in warmer climates and others in colder climates. Local onion bulb sellers can inform you about a good variety for the region where you plan to plant them.