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

13 Sep 17, kelvan (Australia - temperate climate): Old Italian method is to bend over the stalks to ground level
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07 May 17, jimmy (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate): may sell them while they're still green?
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07 May 17, (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Hello Jimmy, We need a bit more information. Do you want to sell the onions while they are small or when they are larger, before the tops die down. You can sell or eat onions at any stage but if the tops have not died down they will not keep very long.
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04 May 17, Paul (Australia - temperate climate): How deep do you plant the onion seedling if you buy a small tray from a garden centre or Bunnings?
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06 May 17, Sean (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Onion seedlings from punnets are usually very small.Make a V shaped trench abut 50 mm (2") deep and lay them along one side of the trench at recommended spacing (probably 100 mm (4") then carefully draw the soil from the other side of the trench over the base of the seedlings. This is best done on a cool overcast day or in the evening as a warm sunny day will stress the little seedlings too much. They might stay laying down for a few days but will soon be upright.
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22 Apr 17, Keikantseng (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): I an staying in Taunton village in North west province. Can I plant onion in April?
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23 Apr 17, John (Australia - temperate climate): Yes you can. Long Keeping varieties can be sown now.
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18 Apr 17, gayle (Australia - temperate climate): Hi...I have planted brown onion seeds in seed trays a week ago..they are sprouting...I was wondering when do I plant them in the vegetable garden. Also can I plant seed potatoes now (April) in Victoria. Thanks.
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19 Apr 17, Giovanni (Australia - temperate climate): Onion seedlings are susceptible to danping off so make sure they are in a well aired place. They can be transplanted as soon as they are large enough (2 or 3 leaves). The smaller they are the more attention they will need in the ground so wait a while, they will be easier to transplant and with less transplanting shock.
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15 Apr 17, Jack (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I've been looking for white onions for some time . Is there any reason for the short supply ?
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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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Growing Onion

Allium cepa : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

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