When is the best time to plant onions?
- In late summer to early fall (about 6-8 weeks before the first frost in your zone), broadcast onion seed in a garden bed.
- Cover with about 1/4″ of fine soil, watering well.
- The onions should begin to germinate within 7-10 days.
When to plant onion plants?
Short-Day Onion Plants
- Short Day Onions start bulbing process when daylength reaches 10-12 hours
- They mature in 110 days when planted in the south during winter or early spring
- Short Day Onions mature in 75 days when planted in northern states in late spring but will not get very large; they will not reach their full size potential.
When can I plant onions?
Onions are a cold-season crop, so the best time to plant them is in early spring. The cool weather will encourage them to grow tops. And as the weather warms up, that’s the time they form bulbs. If you live in mild-winter areas, plant onions in the fall instead. What Is the Best Month To Plant Onions?
How to grow an onion from an onion?
Part 1 Part 1 of 3: Preparing the Sprouted Onions
- Peel off sprouted onion’s papery outer skin. Dig your fingernails into the skin at the top of the onion bulb and rip it off piece by piece.
- Use a knife to cut the onion's layers from the sprouts. The sprouts grow at the center of the onion bulb.
- Separate the onion sprouts. ...
- Place the sprouts in water until roots grow. ...
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Community Q&A
I have an onion sitting in my cabinet that has lots of green leaves. Should I plant the top part (leaves) or the bottom part (roots)?
Tips
To help prevent disease and infestations, try planting radishes in the same plot of your garden as the onions.
Warnings
Although onions are generally resistant to pest problems, they can sometimes fall victim to root maggots that eat bulbs. Insecticidal soap, used according to package directions, can usually control the problem.
About This Article
This article was co-authored by Andrew Carberry, MPH. Andrew Carberry has been working in food systems since 2008. He has a Masters in Public Health Nutrition and Public Health Planning and Administration from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. This article has been viewed 688,067 times.
INTRODUCTION
Onions are one of the oldest vegetables in continuous cultivation dating back to at least 4,000 BCE. The ancient Egyptians are known to have cultivated this crop along the Nile River. There are no known wild ancestors, however, the center of origin is believed to be Afghanistan and the surrounding region.
TRANSPLANT PRODUCTION AND DIRECT SEEDING
Short-day onions can be grown from both seed and transplants; however, the majority of onions are grown from transplants.
VARIETY SELECTION AND CHARACTERISTICS
As mentioned earlier, the type of onion grown in South Georgia is a short-day onion that bulbs during the short days of winter (>11 hours daylength). Although limited research has been done in this area, it may be possible to grow intermediate-day onions in North Georgia; however, they would not be as mild as the south Georgia Vidalia onions.
SOILS AND FERTILIZER MANAGEMENT
Onions grow best on fertile, well-drained soils. Tifton series 1 and 2 soils are found in the Vidalia onion area and are well suited for onion production. However, most sandy loam, loamy sand or sandy soils will be advantageous to sweet onion production.
CULTURAL PRACTICES
Transplants (see Transplant Production) are generally set in November to December. They can, however, be successfully set in January. Plants set in February will generally be smaller at maturity. Consequently, they will have a smaller percent of jumbos. Early varieties should be planted prior to the end of December.
IRRIGATING SWEET ONIONS IN GEORGIA
Because of the importance of water management in onions, all commercially grown onions in Georgia are irrigated. Research and extension trials in Georgia have indicated that properly irrigated onions will yield 25 to 50 percent more than dry land onions.
CHEMICAL APPLICATION
Two types of sprayers, boom and air-assisted, are used for applying insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and foliar fertilizers. Air-assisted sprayers (Figure 4) utilize a conventional hydraulic nozzle, plus air to force the spray into the plant foliage.
Taxonomy and etymology
The onion plant ( Allium cepa ), also known as the bulb onion or common onion, : 9-10 is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. It was first officially described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1753 work Species Plantarum. A number of synonyms have appeared in its taxonomic history:
Description
The onion plant has been grown and selectively bred in cultivation for at least 7,000 years. It is a biennial plant, but is usually grown as an annual. Modern varieties typically grow to a height of 15 to 45 cm (6 to 18 in). The leaves are yellowish- to bluish green and grow alternately in a flattened, fan-shaped swathe.
History
Because the wild onion is extinct and ancient records of using onions span western and eastern Asia, the geographic origin of the onion is uncertain, although domestication likely took place in Southwest or Central Asia. : 20-21 Onions have been variously described as having originated in Iran, western Pakistan and Central Asia. : 1
Cultivation
Onions are best cultivated in fertile soils that are well-drained. Sandy loams are good as they are low in sulphur, while clayey soils usually have a high sulphur content and produce pungent bulbs. Onions require a high level of nutrients in the soil.
Production
In 2019, world production of onions and shallots (as green produce) was 4.5 million tonnes, led by China with 22% of the world total, and Japan, Mali, and South Korea as secondary producers.
Storage
Cooking onions and sweet onions are better stored at room temperature, optimally in a single layer, in large mesh bags in a dry, cool, dark, well-ventilated location. In this environment, cooking onions have a shelf life of three to four weeks and sweet onions one to two weeks. Cooking onions will absorb odours from apples and pears.
Varieties
Most of the diversity within A. cepa occurs within this group, the most economically important Allium crop. Plants within this group form large single bulbs, and are grown from seed or seed-grown sets. The majority of cultivated varieties grown for dry bulbs, salad onions, and pickling onions belong to this group.
