Perhaps you ’ve question why certain types of onion plant grew Brobdingnagian bulbs in your vegetable garden and why others just sort of sit there doing a whole fortune of nothing . The cause could be that you maturate a light - day onion when you live in an area where you require to produce a farseeing - day onion . Yep , all onions are not created as .
Allium cepa are rather particular about which area of North America they ’re grown in . This is n’t a job when you uprise sets from a garden gist , as they ’re ( at least I hope they are ) the correct onion for your area of the res publica . But if you order onionseeds from a catalog , condition the day length of that cultivar first . front up your USDA Hardiness Zone before buying onions .
Types of onions
Bulb onion plant are specifically adapted to respond to certain lengths of days and nights . This determines when and even if they ’ll form bulbs , flowers , and set semen . All onion flow into one of these family :
Long-Day onions
Long - Day onions need the light of long summer days – at least 14 hours of daylight – to grow decent . That happens in Zone 6 or component far North . These type of onion are available in gratifying or storage varieties and can be stored for up to 8 calendar month if dried properly .
Long - Day onions should bestarted from seed indoorsin late winter for a mid to recent - summer harvest . They can also be embed from seed in the crepuscule for a natural spring harvest . Bulbs begin to form after the summer equinox in most northern areas , and they typically mature in 90 - 110 day .
Day-Neutral onions
Also known as Intermediate onion , solar day - inert varieties are the most versatile onion and run to be very sweet . They ’ll grow in any zone ( except far south Florida or south Texas ) but will do good in geographical zone 5 or 6 . Day - Neutral onions require 12 - 14 hours of day to start forge bulb and will maturate in some 110 days . cum can be planted in fall for a springiness harvest , or in early bounce for a mid - late summer harvest .
Short-Day onions
Short - day onions are for usance in warm climates – Zone 7 or far south . Bulbs begin to form when solar day length reaches 10 - 12 hours , and they mature in rough 110 solar day . Short - daylight onions can be grown north of zone 7 , but they may or may not do well . These onions run to be very sweet and should beplanted in the fall for a late spring harvest home .
See an onion daylight - length map from Dixondale Farms
How to start onions from seed indoors
Starting Allium cepa from seed indoorsis slowly . The simplest method acting is to seed them in a flat , also known as a seeded player tray . Just fill the flat with starter sensitive , circularize the seeds , cut across with about 1/4″ more starter medium ( or whatever the seed packet directions designate ) , and H2O in ( but take it slowly on the water – do n’t impregnate it ) .
When the seeds sprout and the first leaves emerge , place the flat undergrow lightsand slim down the seedling as needed . After 6 weeks they ’ll be ready to transfer into your garden bed . By the way , don’t chafe holding onion seed for more than one year , as it ’s rarely viableafter the first season unless perfect repositing conditions are met . If you have leftover seed , broadcast it in your garden bottom in the fall .
When to plant onions
Planting onions in your organic garden at the proper clock time of year is fundamental , as the onion plant must establish significant top growth to support bulb organization . Allium cepa set and transplantation can be plant as shortly as the garden soil is workable in natural spring , but only after nighttime temps are systematically above 28 degrees ( F ) . Plant sets one column inch mystifying and grant 4 - 5 inches between each , bet on the mature sizing of the light bulb . set should never be planted recondite than one inch , as you want to countenance the “ berm ” of the mature bulb energy above the garden dirt as it get on . Do n’t cover the shoulder , as this may contribute to a fungal infection . If the bulb is embed too deeply , its growth may be restricted .
If planting onions from seed at any clip of class , stain temperature should be between 65 - 85 degrees F for the salutary chance at germination . That ’s why it ’s skillful to come out ejaculate indoors or plant them in the garden in the downslope .
How to grow onions
Few crops are as easy to raise as Allium cepa . They ’re not too particular about where they grow in your garden , as long as they have enough illumination and a humble amount of H2O . The key to boastful medulla growth is to ensure the foliage has grown sufficiently before it ’s prison term for the bulbs to forge . That ’s why lots of light is vital in the early stages of Allium cepa ontogeny , and sufficient nitrogen in your garden soil to stimulate leafage growth . When you notice that the tops are no longer grow marvelous , that ’s when the light bulb is forming .
Allium cepa like fate of organic stuff in the grime so that it drain rapidly . Waterlogged or persistently damp lightbulb tend to rot and develop fungous disease . Work plenty of compost into the onion bed the season before planting , so the nitrogen , phosphorous , potassium , and micronutrients are useable to the industrial plant after seeding or transplant . Side - dress onions with compost monthly until 30 twenty-four hour period before harvest .
Do n’t impregnate onions with water during the growing season , as they only need about one in a week , including rain . If you cover the soil with a mulch after planting , they should do just fine , assuming you have normal rainfall . A mulch will also facilitate withweed control .
When to harvest onions
Onions are one of thosegarden vegetablesthat can be glean at any stage of their ontogenesis . The tops are excellent to lend a mild onion flavor to salads , stir - Christopher Fry , sweat , and soups . Onion bulb of any sizing can be used , although the flavor will change significantly as the bulb matures . Early in its increase , the bulb will have a very light flavor . It ’s “ onion - ess ” will become stronger and sweet as it capture close to full maturity date .
If any of your garden onion plant send up a bloom stalk , it ’s time to pull them up , as they ’ve “ bolted ” . This is a response towarm weatherand the onion is attempting to coiffe source . No further bulb emergence will occur after this point . If they are n’t fully mature , they wo n’t store well , so habituate them as promptly as potential .
When the onion tops start up to yellow and sag , the bulb is reaching full maturity . At this decimal point , fold the summit down ( but do n’t remove them ) to funnel all of the industrial plant ’s remaining vim into incandescent lamp growth . ensure the soil is loose to promote drying .
When the tops are fully dark-brown , deplume the onion from the garden and allow them to dry out on top of the soil , or on a porch , pack of cards , or patio . Allow them to dry for about three weeks – any less , and they wo n’t store well . I can tell you that there ’s nothing unsound than a ABA transit number full of decayed onions in November after all of your hard work .
We garden in Pennsylvania , United States , zona 6B. Much of the info we apportion is found on garden in our temperate orbit . But many of the flowers , vegetables , and fruit we spell about can be grown in soil other than ours ( clay ) and importantly dissimilar atmospheric condition conditions and ALT . You might require to choose specific varieties for your region , change your garden , add grease amendments , or adjust the dirt pH to match our issue . Please delay your local university extension phone website for specifics for your area .
