Growing Onion

Allium cepa : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

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

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

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • 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
15 May 13, Dave Coats (Australia - arid climate)
Garden bed Chillies? I live in one of the harshest areas of South Aust. Temps vary from -5 to high 40's. As a child here I saw a couple of Europeans growing them well. Would love some help. Cheers Dave.
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07 Mar 13, adam (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi. to answer your question, any onions would be fine in Brisbane this time of year. Reds are usually sweeter, so don't store as well. The good storing onions are the "creamgold" brown onions. Reds will only usually store for a couple of months. But you won't really get any to eat until september or october if you plant now. Onions are a long season crop.
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05 Mar 13, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
what type onion would I be best to grow in brisbane for march would the reds be best for this time of the year
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03 Sep 13, Maurice (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Some of the perennial onions would probably do well for you, they are far easier and seem to be hardier than the regular kinds. I bought tree onions, everlasting onions and potato onions from mudflower blogspot.
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01 Mar 13, darrell (Australia - temperate climate)
where could i buy onion sets in australia?
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08 Feb 13, Jase (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Onions are immortal and can be re-planted after harvest. When cutting for food, chop <1.5 cm from the roots for re-planting. Water well and the onion will bulb into a few new plants. Separate the bulbs and you will have a new batch of onions.
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20 Apr 12, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I must be very lucky! I ignored everything the onion pack said (like covering with seed raising mixture, etc) and planted the seeds right into the dirt. Rather than the seeds taking 21-28 days as the packet said, they came through in 10 and going really strong :) All the best :)
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01 Feb 12, greg (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Can u pls provide me informations on onion cultivation in my area
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13 Jan 12, Narelle (Australia - temperate climate)
How do you get onion seeds to germinate? I've tried with a few different seed packets, but no luck. Is it the soil? I'd love some information for optimum conditions for growing onions from seed.
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05 Feb 12, Jimmy (Australia - temperate climate)
I raised seeds in seed propogating mix in small containers first. That way I can control watering and temperature better until they are strong enough to transplant. Have had almost 100% seed germination rate so far! Hope that helps.
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Showing 151 - 160 of 197 comments
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Absolutely! We do all the time! We always cut the onions we buy horizontally in half when cooking and carefully peel down to the middle chunks where you can see how many "dots" are gonna be onions next year. We have a big patch of sandy loose soil that has a lot of chicken manure and/or compost here or there that we plant all of them in. We plant them an inch or so under the soil (totally covered up is best but not too deep) and we do not break them apart first. They grow into BIG beautiful onions in a year or so if you give 'em a drink of water when its dry for weeks. AND they make seeds too! Good seeds if you let them dry all the way out! We love getting free food from cooking scraps... with a bit of pre-planning on slicing the onions right to begin with... Try replanting carrot tops if you want fresh seeds... the top 2" of a regular carrot grows into fluffy foliage and sends up nice fresh seed heads in late summer. Freebies are fun!

- Melinda Schwab

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