Growing Onion

Allium cepa : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
            S S S      
            T T T      
            P P P      

(Best months for growing Onion in Australia - temperate regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • 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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for Australia | for all countries
03 Apr 20, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
When an onion grows the bulb part sits on top of the soil, only the roots are in the soil. DO NOT hill the soil up over the bulb. Check on the internet and see.
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26 Oct 19, Allan Kevin Marshall (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I sowed my Hunter River Brown seeds on the 1st of April in rows East & West I thinned them out & the thinnings I planted in a bed facing North & South .The thinnings are bolting to seed,& the ones planted in the East West are doing well. I live in Geelong Victoria,What could be the fault here with the planting North & South
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08 Dec 19, Susan in Canberra (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Allan, is it possible that the thinnings were stressed by being pulled out & replanted and this caused them to bolt ahead of the original plantings?
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28 Oct 19, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My home garden is NS and a men's shed gardens I had were NS. I'm now in a new garden set up that is EW. I have wondered about the difference. My thoughts are with the plantings NS, ALL plants have sun on them all the day whatever hours that is. The sun from the E in the morning and W in the afternoon. With the EW some plants might be shaded by other plants during the day. Different beds could be different soil fertility, hrs of sunlight, watering etc. Generally when soil nutrient and/or water are not sufficient the plant will flower and set seed to be able to reproduce in the future.
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14 Sep 19, petre (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi, Can I buy Onion sets in Australia ?. I live in Canungra Queensland. Thanks, Peter.
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20 Jul 20, Peter Turner (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Don't buy sets to plant onions. Onions are a biennial crop meaning they flower and set seed in the second year. Onion sets are cold hardened to mimic over-wintering they will think they are in the second year and will go to flower and set seed. This comes at the expense of the bulb getting large.
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16 Sep 19, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
What do you mean by sets?. I don't grow onions but I would think most people grow from seeds or seedlings.
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27 Aug 19, Jessica (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, can I still plant onion in September in Melbourne? thank you
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27 Aug 19, Liz (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Check here www.gardenate.com/plant/Onion?zone=2
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28 Jul 19, Elizah Thadius (Australia - tropical climate)
Do we have an insecticide/fungicide for bulb onion? Can anyone tell me if there is any manufactured fertilizer for bulb onion?
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Showing 31 - 40 of 192 comments
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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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