How to Plant and Grow Onions
Onions are one of the most popular vegetables in the world. Onions are basically used for various kinds of dishes. You cannot think of making a delicious dish without onions. So onions are a must-have vegetable in our lives. I have been growing onions in my garden for ten years, and every time at the end of the season, I have yielded much more than I expected. Growing onions in a garden is a very easy task; I have been growing onions in a container in my garden. I will show you how you can also grow onions in your garden and how you will benefit from it.
1. Best Time to Plant Onions
For growing vegetables, the perfect time is essential. Without the perfect timing, you may not get a good yield of vegetables. For onions, the perfect time is also needed. Many people ask me what the perfect time to plant onions is. In my opinion, spring is the best time to plant onions, so late March or April are good times to plant onions. If you ask me when I plant my onions, I always plant them in late March. From my experience, I believe late March is the perfect time to plant onions.
2. Preparing Seedlings
You can get good quality seedlings from the closest nursery or you can also make your own seedlings. Preparing your own seedlings is a very easy task if you ask me. Many people believe preparing their own onion seedlings is very hard and challenging, but it is not. First of all, you need to buy onion seeds from the market or store. You will also need a small container. The container should be 6 inches wide and 8 inches deep and must have some drainage holes at the bottom. The next step is to prepare the soil. For preparing soil, you will need 50% garden soil, 30% compost, and 20% cocopeat. After mixing, fill the container and compress it so it’s firmly packed and flat on top. You have to moisten your mix with water before planting seeds. Once your mix is moistened with water properly, sprinkle the seeds on top and cover them with a thick layer of mix. Gently press the soil with your hand and then water lightly with a spray bottle on top. Next, you have to keep the soil damp but not soggy for 10 to 15 days, and provide at least 5 to 7 hours of sunlight per day. After 6 to 8 days, you will see the seedlings start to grow. During growth, do not use any kind of fertilizer or compost. You will have to wait until the seedlings are 4 to 6 inches tall; if the seedlings are 4 to 6 inches tall, that means they are ready to plant.
3. Soil Preparation
Soil is the most important part of growing vegetables. If you do not prepare the perfect soil for vegetables, you may not have a good harvest. Onions grow well in moderately rich, well-drained soil. If you wish to grow onions in a container in your garden, you will need 50% garden soil, 30% compost, and 20% river sand. Many people ask why river sand is necessary. Well, if you mix sand with your soil, the sand will make the soil soft, and as a result, you will get bigger onion bulbs. After mixing the soil, you will need an 18-20 inch wide and 12-15 inch deep container for proper bulb formation. Now fill the container with the soil mix. The container should be ready for planting seedlings.
4. Planting Method
For growing onions, the planting method is very essential. Because if we do not plant seedlings properly in the soil, it might affect the onion bulbs. For that, we need to dig a hole about 2 inches deep and space seedlings about 5 to 6 inches apart so that onion bulbs can grow properly. Small spacing can significantly reduce onion bulb size. In a 20-inch diameter container, you can easily plant 10 to 12 plants. Once seedlings are transplanted, water them gently.
5. Fertilizer
Fertilizer is a very important factor for growing onions. If you wish to have big onion bulbs, you must use organic fertilizer. Onions are heavy feeders; they need firm nourishment to grow properly and produce big bulbs. So you will have to use organic fertilizer such as vermicompost every 18 to 20 days. If you ask me, I used 4-5 handfuls of cattle manure every 18 to 20 days.
6. Taking Care
Not only onions but if you wish to grow any kind of vegetables, taking care is essential. You need to water the plants regularly; remember, too much water can also harm them, so make sure the soil drains well and the water does not stand still. You also have to place them in full sun so that they can get enough nutrients to grow big bulbs. You have to feed the plants with compost throughout the growing season for the best results. Onion flower buds can be a problem after a few weeks. If you see onion plants growing flower buds, you have to snip the flower buds to prevent onion bulbs from splitting into two. When the onions start to mature, you have to bend the top down so that the bulb can get enough sunlight to grow properly. You have to do it gently and bend the heads in different directions. When the bulbing process starts, do not use any kind of fertilizer or compost.
7. Harvest
Basically, onions need 90 to 100 days to mature from seedlings. So that means after 100 to 150 days, about 6 months later, you can harvest your onions. So how will you know that the onions in your garden are ready for harvest? When you see the main stalk getting weak and starting to flop over and the green tips starting to turn yellow or brown. Once the leaves start to become crumpled, you can pull out the onions, and you will have your harvest.
