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

26 Jun 14, peter mallon (Australia - temperate climate): looking to grow some pickling onions.should i use seed or are they availabli in seedlings
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18 Jun 14, Jo Dumergue (Australia - temperate climate): I planted out my white & red onion seedlings; my leeks & spring onions over 6 weeks ago. None have done well, and became infested with tiny black bugs. I sprayed with soapy spray and sprinkled ash from the fire over them - but I think I've lost them all. What could these bugs be - look a bit like aphids.......and very disappointing as the onions seem to take ages to grow.
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01 Jul 14, Barb (Australia - temperate climate): Hi Jo, Sounds like black aphids. I plant a heap of flowers in the vegie garden to encourage predatory insects that eat aphids. But if you have so many aphids, it might be that the plants are unhealthy, which means the soil might not be good. I'd be inclined to add some good compost to the soil (well matured for onions) and also foliar feed the onions with a liquid seaweed such as seasol to help make the onion plants more resilient. Also good to interplant them between lettuce as this seems to help hide the onions from the bugs while they're young and vulnerable.
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29 May 14, (Australia - temperate climate): I have just bought 1 kg of onion seed and may not use all of it this year, will the seeds still be good to use in a year's time? Thanks
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20 May 14, Maurice (Australia - sub-tropical climate): There are a few perennial varieties of onion around so you do not need to mess around with saving seed and planting seedlings each year. They are hard to find but easy to grow, they seem to grow well even here in the tropics. I am very happy with mine, I got them from living-mudflower.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/perennial-annual-vegetables-for-sale.html
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03 May 14, Robin schuboxey (Canada - Zone 2a Sub-Arctic climate): I reccommend you grow your Australian onions in seed trays before you plant them in the garden. It works here in Canada at minus zero so it surely must work in your warm Australian soil
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05 Apr 14, Dave (Australia - sub-tropical climate): My onions are growing ok but they are all lying down instead of standing up. Is there something I should be doing to make them stand up?
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30 Mar 14, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): Hi, Where can I buy onion sets / bulbs for home growing ?
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22 Feb 14, Ali (Australia - temperate climate): I am still drying out on onions I have taken it the top the the onion(where all the seeds are) but they are still green. What do I do? When do I plant them? Would they turn out okay!!?
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13 Feb 14, Hlumelo Somniso (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): i am at Alice (eastern cape ) what is the right time to plant australian brown.
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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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Gardenate

Keep your garden growing - see what to plant right now

Growing Onion

Allium cepa : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

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