The savory flavor of onions (Allium cepa) forms the backbone of countless exquisite dishes worldwide. With a wide array of delightful onion varieties in the market, why not venture into growing your own at home? This extensive guide will walk you through the process, from choosing your favorite variety to their cultivation.
Identifying the Ideal Onion Varieties for Planting
There is no shortage of onion varieties to cater to different culinary needs. Here are some popular options:
- Onion ‘Stuttgarter Giant’: Recognized for its slightly flattened, firm, and flavorful bulbs. Ideal for storage.
- Onion ‘Red Baron’: Known for its late-maturing dark red bulbs. It stores well.
- Onion ‘Jetset’: An early maturing variety bearing yellow-brown bulbs, which store well.
- Onion ‘Sturon’: Acclaimed for its robust bolt resistance and ability to produce round, flavorful bulbs suitable for long-term storage.
- Onion ‘Troy’: Best suited for autumn planting. It also possesses excellent bolt resistance and produces delicious yellow-skinned bulbs.
Essential Onion Cultivation Equipment
To attain flourishing onion growth, you’ll require:
- Onion sets (similar to bulbs but harvested earlier)
- Garden Spade and Fork
- A good supply of compost or well-rotted farmyard manure, such as Miracle-Gro Premium All Purpose Compost
Fertilizer - Netting to protect the young plants
The Optimal Onion Planting Time
Some onion varieties thrive when planted in autumn, promising an early summer harvest. However, in water-logged or heavy soils, the bulbs may rot. For this reason, many gardening enthusiasts prefer planting onion sets in early to mid-spring [1].
Onions require fertile soil with a neutral or alkaline pH, coupled with ample sunlight. For spring planting, enrich the soil with compost or well-rotted farmyard manure during autumn and let it settle over winter.
Onion Planting Procedure
It’s easier and more convenient to grow onions from sets—small onion bulbs bred explicitly for planting. Here are the steps:
- Before spring planting, clear the plot of weeds and stones, tread down the soil and rake the surface to achieve a light, crumbly texture.
- Two weeks preceding planting, incorporate granulated fertilizer (35g/m2) or dried chicken manure pellets (75g/m2) into the soil. If you were unable to mulch in autumn, double the fertilizer dosage.
- Plant the onion sets approximately 20cm (8in) apart, leaving the tips slightly exposed. Allow 30cm between rows.
- Water the onions after planting to help settle the soil around the bulbs.
- Cover the planted area with netting to deter birds from uprooting the young plants.
Onion Maintenance Tips
Following these tips will optimize your onion yield:
- Maintain a weed-free environment. Opt for hand-weeding instead of hoeing to avert damaging the foliage and bulb tips.
- Regularly water your plants during dry periods.
- Immediately remove any flowerspikes that appear.
- Cease watering once the leaves begin to yellow, indicating that the bulbs are swelling.
Onion Harvesting
Spring-planted onions are usually ready for harvest in late summer or early autumn, whereas autumn-planted ones will be ready in early to mid-summer. Once the foliage begins turning yellow and falling over, use a fork to gently lift the bulbs, ensuring they aren’t bruised.
Onions Storage
After harvesting, lay the onions in a single layer on a drying rack or a slated shelf for ventilation. Leave them in the sun or greenhouse for drying over a couple of weeks. Store the now dry and papery-skinned bulbs in net bags or braid the foliage to create bunches. Keep the onions in a light, cool, well-ventilated area to prevent sprouting.
Common Onion Pests and Diseases
While onions are generally easy to grow, their plants can occasionally fall prey to pests and diseases such as bolting, onion flies, allium leaf miner, onion white rot, and leek rust. You could limit such occurrences by growing bolt-resistant varieties, covering the plants with fleece, ensuring adequate watering, using insect-proof netting and promptly addressing any disease symptoms.
By following this guide, you can enjoy the satisfaction of cultivating your own onions. Whether you use them in cooking, salad preparation, or garnishing, home-grown onions undoubtedly add a unique, fresh flavor to your dishes.
