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

29 Oct 18, hamish (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate): more than likely planted a little too deeply at start warm regards hamish
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27 Nov 17, John (Australia - temperate climate): Hello and thanks for your time I would like to grow red onions i live in the wrstarn suburbs of Adelaide when do I plant seed thank you .
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01 Dec 17, Mike (Australia - temperate climate): Read what it says above - it tells you.
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14 Nov 17, rob (Australia - temperate climate): onions are going to seed . Should I pick now or wait till they brown
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20 Nov 17, Mike (Australia - cool/mountain climate): In future pick before they seed or when you first see them starting to seed.
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15 Nov 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Pick them and then leave in the sun for a few days to brown off.
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24 Oct 17, Danie (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): Why shouldn't onions be planted close to beans and peas?
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17 Oct 17, Danie (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): Do I have to roll the leaves of the plants to enhance bulb forming at this time before they are harvested to prevent new growth?
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04 Oct 17, Vincent Mulenga (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): I'm in Zambia can I grow onion rainfall whan should I plant my ?
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20 Oct 17, Danie (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): I would plant onions (seedlings) in March and harvest in October/November or plant seed in trays during February.
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Showing 181 - 190 of 366 comments

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Replying to:

Kate This happened to me too the first year I planted onions. Then after reading more I found that an onion grows to reproduce. It has two choices: 1. To flower. If it does then all it’s energy will pass from its bulb to the flower. Result no onion but a nice flower. 2. To form a bulb and wait for another year. This is what happpens when you bend the tops over and tie back the flower scape so it does not grow. When this is done, the onion stops putting energy into the flower and concentrates on forming a bulb. Then you get an onion. They are quite persistent so you will need to keep the tops bent over once the leaves start to brown. So plant as normal. Then when the tops start to brown bend them over and tie back the head so as to prevent or stop the flowering. https://garden.org/frogs/view/7543/

- David

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Growing Onion

Allium cepa : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

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Gardenate

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Growing Onion

Allium cepa : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

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