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

10 Feb 14, kathleen harris (Australia - temperate climate): Can you recommend a variety of onion that I can grow for pickling. The pickling onions in the shops are too big and not nearly crisp enough.
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07 May 14, Ted (Australia - temperate climate): Kathleen we plant out cream gold for pickling have done it for years. Plant them close together rather thickly and harvest in summer. They can sit around for ages if needed before you pickle them. Very crisp.
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06 Nov 13, doug Dewar (Australia - arid climate): i have planted onions and spring onions over the top of pea mulch and a lot of seeds have germinated, i have been pulling them out as they come up and finally they have all gone.Should i use sulphate of potash to balance out the high level of nitrogen in the soil as i do not want to lose them because they take so long to grow,hoping you can help me,thanks doug dewar.
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07 May 14, Travis Edwards (Australia - temperate climate): If anything you will find that the decaying pea straw will be sucking nitrogen out of the soil while it is decaying once it has composted down well it will be nitrogen rich however. lime, and gypsum, would be a good additive as the decay process tends to be acid and onions prefer a slightly alkaline soil. (lime and gypsum will help neutralise the acidity.)
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14 Nov 13, Norma (Australia - temperate climate): I planted my red onions, in a patch where my beans were, they took twice as long to grow than my brown onions planted nearby in virgin soil, brown onions are almost the size of a Pomello, red onions are still coming on. Onions and pulses, beans and Peas) definitely are enemies
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23 Oct 13, Anne (Australia - temperate climate): what to do? my onions have developed flower stalks, it is mid-spring
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27 Oct 13, Ferran (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Are the onions ready to harvest? Could you harvest them? preventative ways to stop them putting their energy in to flowering are: cutting off the flower stalks, shading them, keeping them moist. Good luck!
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13 Sep 13, Heather Sterling (South Africa - Semi-arid climate): Having grown (and watered) white onions through this past Winter, I now find that the onions are going to seed before the bulb has fully grown out. It would be appreciated if you could give advice as to where I went wrong.
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23 Oct 16, Chester Bosch (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): I have the same experience. Can somebody respond please.
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20 Aug 13, Rui (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate): Sometimes my bought onions in the kitchen start growing leaves. Can I plant these onions, and if so, will it spread and will other onions grow from it, and how should I plant them? Or can you only grow onions from seeds? Thank you.
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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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