Growing Onion

Allium cepa : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
	S
		P	P

(Best months for growing Onion in USA - Zone 5a regions)

S = Plant undercover in seed trays
P = Sow seed

Easy to grow. Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 46°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
Space plants: 2 - 4 inches apart
Harvest in 25-34 weeks. Allow onions to dry before storing.
Compatible with (can grow beside): Lemon Balm, Borage, Carrots, Beets, Silverbeet, Lettuce, Amaranth
Avoid growing close to: Peas, Beans

Your comments and tips

16 Mar 21, David (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): I just transplanted some onion seedlings into a garden bed and it is March. Will they develop normally despite being planted early?
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17 Mar 21, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): You should be ok. Good idea to check planting times before buying/planting seeds or seedlings. You also have to consider your local conditions.
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28 Feb 21, Barbara Esparza (USA - Zone 9b climate): Are there any onion sets that I can plant in Texas zone 9b that are more heat resistant?
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02 Mar 21, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Plants generally have a temperature range that they grow in. That is why most crops are seasonal in a district. Try planting out of that range and you could fail.
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22 Feb 21, Brett (Australia - sub-tropical climate): If I was to plant brown onions, once harvested, how long will they last when they are stored in the pantry?
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05 Mar 21, (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Brown onions keep better than white onions. Let them harden off a bit after picking and keep in a cool aeriated area. Don't pack them tight - like in a bag.
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26 Feb 21, Greg J (Australia - temperate climate): Geelong Australia. I pulled up a couple of beds of brown onions in November. They've been hanging in the back shed since then, no problems at all. They're still as good as when I pulled them up, and we've been using them slowly. I think they will easily last 6 months or more.]
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25 Feb 21, Brad (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Depends on the variety of brown onion mate, the more pungent ones will store longer but they are more suitable to cooler areas. I'm sub-tropical too i'm from brisbane and I do a variety call "Texas early granno" I pulled about 70 to 80 out last year and none went bad. The trick is to harvest them when you need them. Green Harvest is a great site where I get most of my seeds from they are situated in south-east Qld and they have a lot of info of different varieties and the climates they are best suited for. Hope that helped Brett. -Brad
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16 Feb 21, Judith c Greenleaf (USA - Zone 9b climate): Can I plant onion sets in February or march? what sweet onion varieties do you suggest for No. Ca. marine zone 9B? Thank you.
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17 Feb 21, Anonymous (USA - Zone 9b climate): Consult the planting guide calendar and the footnote at the bottom of the page. If it says plant April and you plant Feb, the seeds/sets probably won't germinate/survive . There are reasons why it says to wait until April but take local conditions into considerations.
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Since you are having problems with your Texas Grano -- I would recommend going to an Egyptian walking onion (or other walking onion). Video abojut the onion can be found here: https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=walking+onions&mid=17F7CAB6E4A914745E4A17F7CAB6E4A914745E4A&FORM=VIRE Additionally: the walking onion originated from a cross between the Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum), and the common onion (Allium cepa). The Egyptian walking onion, Allium x proliferum, is a member of the allium family and a great addition to the perennial vegetable garden. Egyptian onions go by many names, including tree onions, topset (or topsetting) onions, and walking onions. The seeds are slow growing, and can take several years for them to grow and flower. That’s why people grow them mostly from established bulbs. Every part of the Egyptian walking onion is edible, including the bulb in the ground, the stems, the flower, and the aerial bulbils. There are different varieties -- some zones 3-9 others 3-10. I would select a 3-10 for your area -- additionally some types grow substantial bulbs under ground -- others have small underground bulbs -- so select your variety based on your need. There are white, brown and purple walking onions. There is also the RED CATAWISSA WALKING onion -- which is not classified as an Egyptian walker -- but is still a walking onion: this variety for its larger sized bulbs and topsets that are much larger than the typical walking onion. All parts of the plant are edible. Walking onions are a standard choice for permaculture gardens and food forests -- they are very low maintenance - and very reliable -- so a good choice for anyone having difficulty growing regular onions.

- Celeste Archer

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Growing Onion

Allium cepa : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

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Keep your garden growing - see what to plant right now

Growing Onion

Allium cepa : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

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