Onions are very easy to grow and, once chopped and cooked, they are a great ingredient to add to different dishes. However, like many other plants, they prefer certain growing conditions. For example, they develop best in raised beds or rows, because in these cases the soil drains water better. While the onions are growing indoors, you can start choosing and preparing the ideal place to continue growing. With a little bit of effort, you can find the perfect place to grow them.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Starting the Indoor Culture
Step 1. Buy onion seeds
It is the first step to take to grow these plants. You can find the seeds in most nurseries and supermarkets. If you live in rural areas, you can also find them in local grocery stores and consortia when the planting season begins. If necessary, you can also have them sent to you by ordering them from the online catalogs.
- Choose onions that are suitable for the climate you live in. The "long day" variety (such as Agostana, Blanco Duro and so on) needs a lot of sunlight and is best suited in northern climates. If you buy this type of onion at your local store, it may be the right variety for the local climate.
- The "short day" variety (Ultra Express, Aprilatica, etc.) is more suitable for the climates of the southern regions, where it can also grow during the winter season, if the temperatures are mild enough.
Step 2. Begin at least 6 weeks before the last expected frost
You need to start growing indoors to give the onions a longer growing period. If you wish, you can also start 8-10 weeks in advance.
- In other words, you can sow as early as the end of January.
- By starting the planting process indoors, you allow more time for the leaves to sprout and the bulbs can get bigger. However, if you don't want to work indoors, buy plants to put outdoors.
Step 3. Plant 4 or 5 seeds in each cell
If you have single cell seed trays, you can place 4 or 5 seeds in each of these to a depth of about 1.3cm. The cell simply consists of the single pan of the tray, filled with soil in which to plant the seeds.
- If you have a single large planter indoors, plant the seeds 6mm apart.
- Again, plant them 1.3cm deep.
Step 4. Cut them if necessary
As the seedlings start growing, they may get too tall and start drooping. If this occurs, it is a good idea to cut the stem to about 10cm.
Part 2 of 3: Finding and Preparing the Perfect Place
Step 1. Find the right position
Onions must be planted in a sunny area. This means that the area does not have to be in the shade due to other plants or the house.
- The best way to understand which area has the greatest sun exposure is to check the garden for a whole day.
- Choose a day when you can go out into the garden every two hours. Observe which area is the sunniest throughout the day.
- Once you have identified the right area, choose the one that stays the most in the sun for planting onions.
Step 2. Prepare a raised garden
It is a land arrangement that involves a greater accumulation of soil in the center. Each sector is generally delimited by planks of wood, concrete or compressed wood bricks that raise the surface of the flower bed from the ground.
- To start, measure the size of the flower bed you want to make. The standard dimensions are usually 120x120 cm, so that the grower can easily reach the center of the flower bed as well. If necessary, help yourself with a rake or shovel to level the ground.
- Get the wood you need. You will need 10 x 10 cm section poles to be placed at the corners, each of which should be 30 cm long. You will also need four boards with a 5x5 cm section as central supports. Finally, buy eight 120 cm long planks with a 5x15 cm section that will form the perimeter of the flower bed.
- Lay the 5x15cm planks along the edges and screw one onto the 10x10cm corner post so that it is flush with the outer edge and base. Place another plank on top of the first, respecting the same position, but slightly higher than the corner post. This should be on top of the first and perfectly flush. Finally, screw the planks into this position.
- The next set of 5x15cm planks should be added so that they are at the edge of the corner post, but cover the ends of the first two. In other words, the edge of the first pair of boards should rest against the second pair, so that the corner post stays on the outside. Continue with this technique around the perimeter of the fence until you have secured all the planks. Finally, measure the square diagonally to make sure the angles are right; if not, move the fence by making the appropriate changes.
- Add the other stakes. Drive them into the ground with the hammer, so that they rest against the outer wall of each side of the square at the center point. Finally, use wood screws to secure them. At the end of this procedure, you can insert the soil inside the perimeter.
Step 3. Create raised rows
This is a fairly similar alternative to the raised bed, but in this case it is not necessary to create a support structure; it is enough to accumulate the soil.
- When the soil is dry, spread biodegradable material on its surface, such as compost, rotting hay, or grass. Move the soil with a rake or motor hoe until it becomes loose and crumbly.
- Consider how to arrange the rows. These should be no more than 120cm wide, otherwise you won't be able to reach the central portion. Between one row and the next you have to take into account the space to be able to walk. If you need space for a wheelbarrow to pass, make sure these "corridors" are at least 30cm wide.
- Build the rows by moving the ground from the access corridors to the center. The rake is the most suitable tool for this purpose. Towards the end of the row you will need a shovel instead. To prevent the corridors from filling up with weeds, cover them with a layer of newspaper consisting of at least 5 sheets; alternatively, you can also put some cardboard. Finally, you can cover the whole thing with mulch or sawdust.
Step 4. Check the terrain
You can find pH measuring kits at most garden stores. To grow well, onions need a soil whose pH is between 6 and 6.8.
- It may be necessary to change the degree of acidity of your land.
- If you need to make the soil more acidic (lower it to 6, 8), you can add powdered sulfur, aluminum or iron sulfate.
- If you need to raise the pH (ie, make the soil more alkaline), add limestone.
- To decide the doses of these substances, use a pH control kit, which you can buy in garden centers; alternatively, ask your municipality's agriculture department to help you with this.
Step 5. Add nitrogen
Onions need this element to grow well. For this reason, always enrich the soil before planting; you can also do this in the fall to improve the quality of the soil for the following spring.
- The simplest way to add nitrogen is to sprinkle a fertilizer rich in this element, available in every garden center. Just spread it on the ground and mix it with it.
- However, you can also rely on natural sources, such as manure or bone meal.
Part 3 of 3: Moving Plants Outdoors
Step 1. Begin the plant adaptation process
You should gradually get them used to the outside climate as it gets milder, later you will be ready to relocate them. To proceed with this operation, just leave them in the garden, every day, for short periods. In the first phase, start for a couple of hours during the hottest moments of the day; temperatures should be constant around 4-5 ° C.
- Increase the duration of outdoor "visits" by a couple of hours each day.
- At the same time, reduce the amount of water you supply to the plants. When they are buried in the garden, they will have less water available and will have to get used to this factor. Water them just enough so they don't wilt.
Step 2. Interrale
After 7-10 days, you can bury the onions. You can do this when temperatures are around 10 ° C. When you decide to move onions to the garden, you need to be sure that the temperature never drops below -7 ° C. Plants should be buried to a depth of 1.5cm.
- Typically, this phase is carried out in late March or early April.
- Obviously, if you live in a region where the winter is very long, you have to wait a little longer.
- You can plant the onions two to four weeks before the last expected frost.
Step 3. Space the seedlings correctly
If you want to grow particularly large bulbs, arrange the onions 10-15 cm from each other. If you prefer smaller onions, leave a space of 5 cm between them. If you are growing scallions, you can plant it even more closely.
- The rows should be 30 cm apart.
- Regardless of whether you've built raised beds or rows, there should be two grooves in each bed or row.
Step 4. Cut the plants
These should be about 10cm high when buried. Use shears to cut them to this height when you've moved them all into the garden.
Step 5. Water them regularly
Onions need a lot of water, about 2-3 cm per week. If it doesn't rain, you will need to water them on a regular basis.
- If you don't know when to water them, check the soil for moisture. When plants develop leaves, the soil must always be moist. However, one irrigation per week should be sufficient to ensure the right amount of water.
- As the bulbs start to get bigger (the plants stop producing leaves), the onions need a lower level of humidity.
Step 6. Roll out mulch as needed
You can lay a layer around your plants to suppress any weeds that may grow. Mulch is a layer of material that is placed on top of the soil. It can be made of different materials, such as pieces of bark, grass clippings, straw or something inorganic, such as stones, plastic or crushed bricks. You can buy it from garden stores or use grass clippings from your lawn.
- The organic material improves the quality of the soil over time.
- Mulch helps the soil retain water.
- However, remember that you need to remove it when the bulbs start to get large. You will notice that the onions push the soil slightly upwards. The bulbs also need to be drier, and mulch won't help them in this process, as it retains moisture.
Step 7. Wait for the harvest time
If you want large, dry onions, you need to wait until at least 100 days, but up to 175 days have passed, before proceeding with the harvest. If, on the other hand, you like green onions, you can harvest them after 3-4 weeks.
