How to Plant Onions at Home

Cultivating Onions at home is a rewarding and quite easy gardening endeavour. A fresh supply of onions on hand might improve your cooking since they are versatile and necessary in many cuisines. Whether you have a little container or a vegetable garden, this article will show you how to plant onions at home.

Steps on How to Plant Onions at Home

Below are the series of straightforward steps to ensure healthy and productive onion plants.

Step 1: Choose the Right Onion Variety

Onions are of different varieties, each having its unique characteristics and being suited to various climates and growing conditions, making them suitable for different culinary uses and cultivation environments. Let us break down each variety’s unique features to help you make the best choice:

1. Short-day Onions: 

These are onions that thrive in regions with mild winters and typically require 10-12 hours of daylight to bulb. Examples include:

1. Vidalia Onions: A popular variety of yellow onions known for their sweet flavor and lack of pungency
2. Sweet Granex or simply Granex: This variety has a high sugar content, which is why it is called Sweet Granex, and it has low pungency.
3. Red Creole: These are red onions with a pungent flavor, suitable for both cooking and raw consumption.
4. Yellow Granex: Known for its yellow flesh and sweet taste.

2. Long-day Onions

Long-day onions prefer cooler climates and thrive best in areas with long summer days since they require at least 14 hours of sunshine daily during the bulbing period. They require loamy, fertile, well-drained soil that has been enhanced by organic materials.  Planting should take place in the early spring so that the plants can mature throughout the longer summer days. Examples are:

1. Walla Walla onions: Are known for their large, yellowish, mild, and sweet bulbs.
2. Yellow Sweet Spanish:  These are onions known for their large, golden-yellow bulbs with a mild, sweet flavor and a high storage life.
3. Ailsa Craig: This is a popular long-day onion variety with pale yellow skin that produces large, globe-shaped bulbs with a pearly and mild- flavor. They are also known for their excellent storage qualities.
4. Copra onions: Named after their resemblance to the coconut “copra” in color and texture, are known for their yellowish skin and white interior. They are valued for their sweet flavor and long storage life. Additionally, they are resistant to disease and can be grown in a range of climates.
5.  Red Wing: A medium to large red onion with a slightly pungent flavor is known for its superior disease resistance, high yields, and sweet taste. While often referred to as long-day onions, they are also sometimes classified as day-neutral onions because of their high sensitivity to temperature and daylight length.

3. Day-Neutral Onions

Day-neutral onions, also referred to as intermediate-day onions, are a category of onions that are easy to grow, less sensitive to day length, and adaptable to a wide range of climates. They require 14–16 hours of daylight to bulb. Some common varieties of day-neutral onions include the following:

1.  Candy onions: These are a day-neutral kind that sprouts well in a range of climates and has great storage capabilities. They feature a sweet, mild white body and yellowish skin.
2. Red River onions: These are a sweet, mild, and easy-to-grow variety of onion that is well-suited for many climates. They have deep red flesh and thin, papery skin.
3. Super Star Onions: A white onion variety that can be planted in various climates. They have a mild, sweet flavor and good storage capability. Ideal for fresh use in salads, sandwiches, and cooking.
4. Bridger Onions: Are globular in form, medium to big in size, and have a golden-yellow peel. Their white, firm flesh has a moderate to slightly pungent taste that works well in a range of culinary applications. Their exceptional storage capacity, tolerance to disease, and flexibility in growing environments make them the favored variety.

Guidelines for Choosing an Onion Variety

When selecting an onion variety to grow, it is important to take into account the climate and daylight hours in your region. Below are some general guidelines to help you choose the right onion variety based on your location:

i. Daylight Length: The number of daylight hours in your region can determine the kind of onion to choose, whether short-day, long-day, or day-neutral.

ii. Climate Conditions: Onions can withstand a wide variety of temperatures; however, certain types are more suited to a particular area than others. For example, long-day onions need cooler climates, while short-day onions prefer warmer climates.

iii. Disease Resistance: Maggot, downy mildew, and white rot are some of the diseases that affect onions, but some varieties are more resistant to these diseases than others.

iv. Storage Needs: Onion types vary in how long they can be kept in storage. For instance, yellow sweet Spanish onions may be kept for several months, whereas walla walla onions are usually eaten fresh

v. Flavor: The flavors of onions also differ, ranging from light and sweet to strong and hot.

vi. Bulb shape, size, and skin: Onions come in different shapes, such as globe, flat, and elongated. Sizes may depend on the variety, with some varieties typically growing larger than others. Skin colors range from white to yellow, red, and purple.

It is crucial to take into account each of these aspects when picking an onion breed to make sure you are getting the best one for your area and growing environment. By doing this, you can make sure that your harvest is fruitful and that the variety will satisfy your culinary demands.

Step 2: Prepare the Planting Site

When planning to grow onions in a garden bed, pick a bright place that gets at least 6 to 8 hours of sunshine every day and add compost to the soil to increase its fertility. Understand that onions prefer loose, well-draining soil that has a pH of 6.0 to 7.0 to uptake nutrients effectively. The rows should be spaced 12–18 inches apart, with 4-6 inches between each onion plant for best development.

 If you intend to grow onions in containers, select a container (plastic nursery pots) that is at least 8 inches in diameter, both wide and deep, and make sure it has drainage holes at the bottom. Fill it within 2 inches of the rim with 70% garden soil and 30% compost or well-rotted manure. I recommend you go for a plastic container because they are lightweight, affordable, and less likely to heat up in the sun than metal containers.

Step 3: The Planting Process. 

You can start onions from seeds, sets (small onion bulbs), or transplants. Here is how:

Growing Onions from Seed: (Outdoor Onion Nursery)

Follow the steps below if planting onions from the seeds:

Step 1: Prepare a Garden Bed

Loosen the soil and then mix in organic materials or manure. Plant the Seed: Spread the onion seed evenly across the seed bed, 1/4 inch or 1 cm deep. I said spread because not every seed will germinate. Again, you will still need to transplant the sets later, so do not worry about the spacing at this point, but be mindful not to overspread the seed.

Step 2: Apply Mulch

Add hay or straw mulch, preferably, after sowing onion seeds to help keep the soil wet, prevent weeds from growing, keep the seeds from being washed away by irrigation, and protect the soil from extreme temperatures (full sun).

Step 3: Water it 

 Water the soil with a watering can until it is uniformly wet but not drenched. If it feels wet, approximately an inch deep, then it’s okay. You would want to press your finger into the soil to be sure.

Step 4: Remove the mulch once the seedlings emerge.

Step 5: Transplanting

Onion seedlings are typically ready for transplant after 4-6 weeks of sowing the seeds and when they have developed 2-3 true leaves and have a strong root system.

From Seeds: (Indoors Onion Nursery)

Starting onions from seeds allows for greater control over the growth process and allows you to cultivate strong, healthy plants before transplanting them outdoors. Follow the steps below:

Step 1: Prepare Seed Trays

Fill a seed tray that has holes in the recommended spacing or small pots with a high-quality seed-starting mix. Seed-starting mix, also known as seed-starting soil, is a lightweight, well-draining mix specifically designed for starting seeds. It is usually made from combining peat moss or coco coir, vermiculite, and perlite, and you can get it from garden centers and nurseries and online retailers like Amazon, etc.

Step 2: Sow Seeds

Plant onion seeds 1 cm deep in the seed-starting mix. The seed tray provides the needed spacing with the holes provided.

Step 3: Moisture

Water the soil-starting mix with a watering can until it is equally wet but not drenched.

Step 4: Provide Lighting

Use grow lights to provide 12–16 hours of light per day. Fluorescent or LED lights are good options for onions.

Step 5: Temperature

Use seedling heating mats designed to fit under seed trays to provide the needed temperature to keep the roots warm and promote germination.

Step 6: Thinning

Once seedlings reach about 3 inches in height, remove some of the seedlings 1 inch apart to give the remaining ones more space for healthy growth. When seedlings are crowded, they compete for light, water, and nutrients, which can result in weak, spindly growth. You don’t want that.

Step 7: Transplanting

The seedlings can be transplanted outdoors into the garden bed or containers after they are about 4–6 inches tall and the risk of frost is gone.

Growing Onions from Sets

Planting onion sets is a relatively simple process. Below are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Select Onion Sets

Onion sets are tiny, dormant bulbs; pick solid, healthy ones without any damage or disease.

Step 2: Prep the Soil

Loosen a well-draining soil in a sunny location, well-draining soil and amend the soil with compost to improve fertility.

Step 3: Planting and Spacing

Plant onion sets with their pointy ends facing up, two inches deep. Ensure the sets are covered up to the neck. Space the sets 5 inches apart in rows that are 15 inches apart to allow the onions to grow without crowding each other.

Step 4: Irrigation

After planting, water the soil thoroughly to be sure it is evenly moist but not waterlogged. Onions require consistent moisture, especially during the early stages of growth. The frequency of subsequent watering will depend on your local climate and weather conditions. In general, onions need about 1 inch of water per week, either from rain or from irrigation.

Step 5: Maintenance

Keep the planting area moist and free from weeds; also monitor for pests and diseases.

By following these procedures, you can successfully plant and grow onions from sets in your garden or containers. It’s easy enough, right?

Planting Onions from Transplants.

 To cultivate onions from transplants, loosen the soil and add organic matter. Then, dig holes for the transplants, spacing them 5 inches from each other and 15 inches apart in rows. After removing the transplants from their containers, gently loosen the roots and plant them firmly, but not too deeply and not too shallow.  Water the transplants thoroughly, and then keep watering and fertilizing as needed during the growing season.

Step 4: Caring for Onions

After planting your onions, it is essential to consistently provide them with the following care and attention:       

1. Irrigation: Water the plants deeply at least once a week, being careful not to waterlog the soil.     
2. Weeding: Pull weeds as soon as they grow.      
3. Fertilization: Fertilize the onions with a balanced fertilizer such as organic fertilizers like composted animal manure, blood meal, fish emulsion, bone meal, and 10-10-10 balanced fertilizers like Miracle-Gro All-Purpose Plant Food, Jobe’s Organics All-Purpose Granular Fertilizer, etc., every 4 weeks.
4. Watch out for Pests and Diseases: Watch for common onion pests like onion maggots and thrips. Use fungicides such as copper sulfate and sulfur to control fungal diseases like downy mildew and white rot, and insecticides like permethrin and pyrethrin to control pests like onion thrips, onion maggots, and onion fly when necessary.

Step 5: Harvesting Onions

Most onions can be harvested between 10-12 weeks. However, when the onion tops turn yellow and naturally fall over, they are ready for harvest. To harvest, use a garden trowel to slightly loosen the soil around each bulb, then gently pull them out of the ground. Be careful not to bruise the bulbs, as this can cause them to rot. Allow the bulbs to cure in a dry, airy place for at least three weeks, and trim off the roots and tops before storing.

Step 6: Storage

Proper storage is key to extending the shelf life of your onions and maintaining their quality. Follow these guidelines to store your onions effectively

1. Store onions at a temperature between 32 and 40°F (0 and 4°C) and between 60 and 70 percent humidity in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area.
2. To enable air to flow around each bulb, use mesh bags, crates, or baskets, making sure that the onions are not touching each other too much to allow air to circulate each bulb.
3. Store onions away from potatoes and other fruits, as they can cause spoilage.
4. Avoid using plastic bags since they retain moisture.
5. Check onions often and discard any that appear rotten.

If stored properly, onions can last up to five months and beyond depending on the variety.

Conclusion

Growing onions in your own garden can be a rewarding experience that brings flavorful, fresh additions to your kitchen. It all starts with choosing the right variety, getting the planting site ready, and giving your plants the care they need to produce a bumper crop that will last for months. Remember to store your onions correctly to enjoy them for months to come. Happy gardening!

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FAQs

 As a gardener, Can I cultivate onions with other vegetables? 

Yes, onions do really grow nicely alongside a variety of veggies. They are good companions for carrots, lettuce, and tomatoes, as they can help ward off pests.

Why are my onion bulbs so small?

Bulbs can be small as a result of insufficient spacing between plants, a lack of nutrients, inadequate sunlight, and sometimes weed overcrowding.

How can I manage weeds in my onion bed?

 Regularly pull out weeds by hand or apply a layer of mulch around onion plants to suppress weeds. Mulching should be done at the early stages of the weeds.