Onions are very popular with DIY gardeners because they can be used in many different ways, are easy to grow and require little space. Plus, they have a short growing season, which means you can start harvesting them in the spring and then dry and store them for use in the winter.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Part 1: Preparing to Plant
Step 1. Choose the type of onion you want to grow
As with many other types of fruit and vegetables, there are different varieties of onions, each with its own characteristics. Onions come in three main colors - white, yellow and red / purple - each with their own distinctive flavor. In addition to the differentiation by color, onions are also characterized according to the photoperiod: long day and short day. Long day onions get this name because they start sprouting when the day length is 14-16 hours (late spring / summer), while short day onions start sprouting when the days will be 10-12 hours (winter / early spring).
- Long-day onions are preferable in areas in northern latitudes, while short-day onions are recommended in areas closer to the equator.
- Yellow onions have a golden color and a slightly sweet flavor, white onions are bitter and a little stronger than yellow, and red onions are purple in color and are often eaten raw.
Step 2. Decide how to plant the onions
In general, there are two ways to plant onions: using onion bulbs or with onion seeds. Gardeners prefer to plant the bulbs directly, as they are a little more robust and withstand less than ideal weather conditions better than seeds. However, if you can grow the seeds indoors and then move everything out into the open, you can also choose this route.
- You could also choose to grow your onions starting with a transplant or cut, but you won't always get results, and it's much more difficult than using bulbs or seeds.
- Visit a local nursery for advice on which bulbs or seeds grow best in your area.
Step 3. Know when to plant
Onions can be tricky to grow if they're not planted at the right time. If you plant them in cold weather, they can die right away or waste energy on blooming rather than on the bulb if you plant them in the spring. If you use seeds, start by planting them indoors at least 6 weeks before planting outdoors. Onions can be planted outside in late March or early April, or when temperatures do not drop below 20 degrees.
Step 4. Choose the ideal area
Onions aren't too picky about the conditions in which to grow them, but they sure do have some preferences. Choose an area with a lot of space and where the sunlight shines. Onions will get quite large if there is space to do it - the more space you give them, the bigger they will get. Avoid planting them in areas where they would have the shade of trees or other plants.
Step 5. Prepare the ground
While it requires a little more dedication, if you can prepare the ground a few months in advance, you will have a better harvest. If you can, start plowing the soil and adding fertilizer during the fall. If the soil is very rocky, sandy, or there is a lot of clay, add some potting soil to settle things up a bit. Plus, find out the pH level of your soil and add whatever it takes to get it between 6 and 7.5.
Reading and changing the pH of your soil is an operation that is advisable to do at least a month before planting, so that any additives have time to act and prepare the soil to receive the onions
Method 2 of 2: Part 2: Planting Your Onions
Step 1. Prepare the ground
When you are ready to plant, plow the soil about 6 inches deep and add a layer (1 cup every 6 meters) of phosphorus fertilizer. Using a blend like 10-20-10 or 0-20-0 will give an extra boost to the growth of your onions. At this point, be sure to remove any weeds that may be present in the area of the garden where you are going to plant the onions.
Step 2. Dig the holes
Plant the onions so that there is only 2-3 cm of soil above the seeds or bulb; if the bulbs were too covered, the growth of the onions would be hindered. Space the onion bulbs 10-15 cm from each other, and the seeds 4-5 cm. When the onions start growing, you can transplant them and move them further away from each other so they can grow more.
Step 3. Plant the onions
Place the seeds in the holes you dug, covering them with 1-2 cm of soil. Use your hands or shoes to firmly press the soil over the onions; they grow best in slightly compact soil rather than slack. Finish planting them by adding a little water. Now all you have to do is watch them grow!
Transplanted onions require more water than seeds and bulbs, so if you have chosen to plant these, give them a little more water
Step 4. Keep your onions well positioned
Onions are relatively delicate, as they have a rather fragile root system that can be easily damaged or bothered by weeds and tugs. Use a hoe to chop off the top of any weeds that might sprout from the ground, rather than uprooting them. tugging on weeds could also pull the onion roots, hindering their growth. Give your onions 2cm of water every week, and add nitrogen fertilizer once a month to provide nutrition. A month after planting them, add a layer of mulch between each plant to retain moisture and block weeds.
- If you want your onions to taste sweeter, add more water than normal.
- If one of your onions blooms, pick it up. After flowering, the onions will not continue to grow.
Step 5. Collect the onions
The onions are ready when the top is golden yellow; at this point, fold the top so that it rests horizontally on the ground. Doing this will direct the nutrients to the bulb rather than the shoots. After 24 hours, the buds should have turned brown and the onions will be ready to harvest. Remove them from the soil and cut the shoots 2 cm from the bulb. Leave the onions to dry for a day or two in the sun, then move them to an enclosed, dry place for 2-4 weeks to continue drying.
- Keep the onions in a sock or net to ensure good airflow during drying. It will also help keep them longer and retain their flavor.
- Sweet onions will spoil faster due to the higher water content, so use them before others to prevent them from moldy.
- Discard, or cut them, and immediately use the good part of the onions that show signs of decay so that they do not spread them to the surrounding onions.
Steps
- To quickly start growing onions, plant the bulbs in containers filled with moist soil two weeks before planting them in the garden. Keep the containers indoors so that they develop roots even before they are moved to the garden.
- To avoid plant diseases and weed infestations, try planting radishes in the same area of your garden where the onions are planted.
Warnings
- Although onions are usually resistant to pests, they can sometimes fall victim to worms that feed on their roots. Insecticidal soap, used as shown on the package, can help control the problem.
- Different types of onions require different day lengths and more or less warm climates. Buying onion bulbs in your area should ensure that they are the type best suited to your geographic location.
