Growing Onion

Allium cepa : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N 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

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17 Apr 10, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Fritz - a cool place for storing onions is in a bottom cupboard or similar. Anywhere that doesn't get hot. They tend to go mouldy in a fridge
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16 Jan 10, Fritz (Australia - temperate climate)
My Brown Onions seem to be ready to harvest.How do I store them? What is a cool Place ? Do i keep them in the Fridge or just in the Kitchen cubboard? In Paper Bags/
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25 Oct 09, mick (Australia - temperate climate)
hi i use to grow hunter river white onions and just cant find where i can buy seed anymore .I live in the wollindilly distric ?
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07 Oct 09, Annie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have the same issue as Kate. My onions are looking great, getting bulbs. I don't want to wait too late in case they start bolting. But I don't know when to harvest them. Or to bend the stems over or just pull them, which is what I've done before. They still have thick stems.
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02 Oct 09, Kate (Australia - temperate climate)
My onions have now got flower pods at the top but never really got round at the bottom like an onion should. Everything says wait till the stems fall over and dry out but I also saw that when they flower they are no good. Help I am confused as to what to do. Do I just pull them all out and plant something else?
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05 Mar 18, David (Australia - temperate climate)
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/
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08 Sep 09, Ani (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi, Just wondering, is there any chance you can put an onion that has started shooting roots in water and have it grow? Thanks.
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11 Aug 09, (Australia - temperate climate)
I have geown onions for sometime with very ittle success, why don't the bulbs swell?
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27 Jul 09, Barb (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Mel, if you select the climate zone for your area in Australia, then the planting guide will tell you which months you can plant onions in your area.
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29 Jun 09, Mel (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
i am interested in planting onions, does this chart shown about growing months occur to Australia?
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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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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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