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Onion Growing Tips - Urban Farmer's Guide
Home > Gardener's Guide > Onion Growing Tips
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Onions can be grown from seeds, sets, or plants. Seeds develop in summer once flowers cease blooming. Seeds can be sown directly in the garden in very early spring, with onion plants ready for harvest by late summer/early fall. Be careful though, onions are very tough to grow from seeds outdoors so make sure you have good topsoil and water gently.
Onion sets, which are grown from the previous year’s seed, are usually about the size of marbles when harvested and stored until the following spring, when they can be planted. Onion plants are also started from seed but are only about the size of a pencil when they are pulled, at which point, the onion plants are sold to gardeners. Sets and plants are generally the most popular methods of growing onions.
Picking the Right Variety
Picking the right onion variety is important. There are two diferent types of onions classified as Long Day Onions and Short Day Onions
Long Day Onions: Also referred to as sweet onions. Long day onions are more appropriate for northern states because they are adapted to longer days. Long day onions form bulbs with more sun, around 15-16 hours of daylight. An exceptional long day onion is the 'White Sweet Spanish' a standard large sweet onion which matures in 128 days.
Short Day Onions: Southern states should use short-day varieties of onions. Short day onions develop bulbs with an average of about 12 hours of daylight. If looking for a tasty short day onion try the 'Texas Early Grano', a softball sized, straw colored onion that stores for months and matures in 168 days.
Starting Early
Starting Early
According to most onion experts, the number of leaves the onion plant produces before the days get shorter determines the size of the onion. Therefore, starting your onion plants (or seeds) earlier, may help increase the size of your onion plants at harvest.
Stress Your Onions
Water stressed onions are stronger in flavor and more pungent. So maybe take a week off every month and allow the soil to harden up between waterings. Only do this once the onion plants are well established.
Fertilizing Onions
Onions grow best when the garden soil is fertilized right. Depending on the number of onions, spread 10-10-10 fertilizer over your soil (about 2 pounds per 100 square-foot area). Measure and spread the fertilizer, then mix it with the top 3-4 inches of soil.
Location, Location, Location
Onions need atleast 6 hours of sun a day to produce well.
Storing Onions and Seeds
Onion plants can be picked and left in the sun to dry for several days before moving to a cooler, dry location such as a garage or basement area. Onions will store for a long time and a good location. Onion seeds are much different, they don't store well at all, so only buy what you plant to use the current year of growing.
Location, Location, Location
Onions need atleast 6 hours of sun a day to produce well.
Storing Onions and Seeds
Onion plants can be picked and left in the sun to dry for several days before moving to a cooler, dry location such as a garage or basement area. Onions will store for a long time and a good location. Onion seeds are much different, they don't store well at all, so only buy what you plant to use the current year of growing.
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