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

08 Apr 11, allan (Australia - temperate climate): onion seedling have died from the tip down like thay have burnt off . planted two punnets 2/3 lost . Thought it was spraydrift howerver replanted & has started to die back again could it be sheep manure not rotted enough . Think sheep is high in potash would do it
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04 Feb 11, stuart (Australia - temperate climate): plant onions on the winter solstice
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01 Mar 11, Brianna (Australia - temperate climate): I like to plant my onion seedling out on the winter solstice, as they are less inclined to go to seed and more likely to create nice big onions. If they still try and flower I just cut the flower off and bend the whole top over and generally they still create nice bulbs. To do this I start the seeds off in a tray 4-6 weeks before the winter solstice.
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07 Nov 10, Gema gonzalez (Australia - sub-tropical climate): what do they need, phosforos, iron...potasium? please let me know
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01 Jan 11, Daniel (Australia - temperate climate): Onions need a fairly mellow compost. The best conditions to grow onions in would be to have a very rich composted bed which you grow something like tomatoes or zucchinis in (heavy feeders) and once those summer crop are finished plant onions in to that same soil. That will give you the best onion results. Onions also require a cold period to form the bulb
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29 Oct 18, Sue Spriggs (Australia - temperate climate): My onions always go to seed. What am I doing wrong?
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27 Oct 10, sharon (Australia - temperate climate): I live in the Adelaide hills and i have my onions in since May this year they are starting to get flowers on the top and some bulbs are under the ground as i hilled them a couple of time not knowing thay should be on top of the ground. should i take some dirt away as they have very thick stems and bend the tops over to stop them from going to seed or just pull them up.???
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12 Aug 10, Mohan (Australia - temperate climate): I was in India last month and came across white onions. It is said white onions have medicinal properties. Are the seeds available in Sydney.
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10 Aug 10, (Australia - sub-tropical climate): hello I am a bit confused about the soil.CanI use blood and bone before planting the seedlingsas Iam getting conflicting reports what has worked for you to get the best results
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12 Jul 10, Sue Summers (Australia - temperate climate): I live in the Bass Strait Islands north of Tassie, I want to know the best onions to plant for making pickled onions (brown variety). Also how do I know when to harvest them?
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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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