Growing Onions Guide | How To Grow And Plant Onions

Onions are one of those essentials in cooking. Think about it; onions are regularly used for cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner. Appetizers, too. And with good reason, too. Onions have been used for centuries to treat coughs, bronchitis, asthma, angina and some bacterial infections. In other words, eating onions keeps more than the people you’re in the room with you at bay.

Onion know-how

     Onions can be grown with little difficulty in all growing zones. But you will need to pay attention as to whether or not your growing zone    is more conducive to growing ‘long day’ or ‘short day’ onions. This refers to the number of hours of daylight needed to encourage the particular variety of the onion to grow. ‘Long day onions need 14 to 16 hours of daylight to grow properly. Walla Walla and Sweet Spanish are just a couple of varieties of ‘long day’ onions. ‘Short day varieties include the Red Burgundy and the Yellow Granex (or red or white Granex).

Other varieties include the Bermuda, Crystal Wax (pearl-sized pickling onion), Sweet Sandwich hybrid, and scallions (miniature bulbs with tops used, as well).

How to grow the perfect onion

     Onions can be grown from seed, seedlings or sets (miniature bulbs), with sets being the easiest. If you start your onions from seed, you’ll most likely want to start them indoors in late winter or very early spring so they’ll be ready to transplant when the time is right for your growing zone. Other onion-growing tips you need to know include:

• Loose, fertile soil. Make sure your soil is loamy, moist and has excellent drainage.
• Onions can be planted close together; 3 to 4 inches apart.
• Onions need to be weed-free. Onions have a very shallow root system, so weeds can easily stunt their growth by taking over their root space.
• Plant your onions no more than two to three inches deep in order to produce larger, rounder onions. Onions planted more deeply will result in longer, skinnier bulbs.
• Onions need to be planted near beets, cabbage, potatoes, lettuce or tomatoes. They will not grow well planted near the green beans or peas.

Onions are known for their durability and tolerance to cold temperatures. But for the most consistent growth, you’ll need to plant your onion sets or seedlings in the ground as soon as the ground is warm enough to not shock them when they go into the ground. And remember…loose, soil with good drainage that you keep moist but not wet.

Harvest time

When the tops of your onions lay over on the ground and start to turn, you can harvest your onions. Here’s how….

• Using a potato fork or shovel, dig down 6 to 8 inches deep 6 to 8 inches out from the onion top.
•  Carefully work your way toward the onion and lift your fork or shovel, bringing the soil and onion with it. Shake the loose soil off.
• After all the onions have been dug, cut the roots and tops off. Leave them to air-dry for two or three days to heal the cuts. NOTE: if you cut into any of the onions, wash and use within a few days or chop into small pieces and freeze for later use.
• Once air-dried, your onions should be stored in a cool, dark, dry place such as a pantry or closet. Use as need.