Planting Onions in the Vegetable Garden

May 24, 2017

Planting Onions in the Vegetable Garden

Planting is in full swing down in my vegetable garden.

Ryan, Wilmer, and our NYBG intern, Wambui, have been very busy planting the broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower, and scattering seeds for the carrots, parsnips, beets, and all kinds of other greens. A couple of weeks ago, they also planted the onion crop. The onions were started from seed in my greenhouse earlier this year and were finally ready to transplant into our beds. I am looking forward to a bountiful harvest!

Enjoy these gardening photos…

: We always grow a lot of onions. The onion, Allium cepa, is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. Onions should be planted in spring when temperatures are still a bit cool once they start to grow, and then warm when they begin to mature. Early planting gives the onions time to develop tops and store energy for the bulbs.

: Onions are closely related to garlic, leeks, shallots, scallions and chives.

: We wanted the onion plant rows to look tidy and straight, so to guide the rows, Wilmer used jute twine tied taut from one end of the garden bed to the other and secured with wooden stakes.

: The rows are perfectly spaced in the bed – six rows each. When planting onions, select a location with full sun where they won’t be shaded by other trees or plants. The best soil is well-drained, loose and rich in nitrogen. Onions are heavy feeders, and require constant nourishment if they are to produce big bulbs.

: Ryan creates markers for all the onion varieties, so they’re easily identified throughout the season.

: We use these large wooden stakes from Johnny’s Seeds. They are made from birchwood veneer and treated with an environmentally-friendly, water-based preservative – easy to write on and last much longer. http://www.johnnyseeds.com/

: The onion plants are carefully pulled apart and planted at least four-inches away from each other. Using the twine helps to make the best use of the beds – space is precious.

: Onions come in three general colors: red/purple, yellow and white.

: Onions are also categorized in two growing types: long-day and short-day. Long-day onions begin sprouting in late spring to summer when days are between 14 and 16 hours long. Short-day onions begin sprouting when days are between 10 and 12 hours in length – winter and early spring.

: Roots grow out of the bottom of the onion bulb, and tend to only be about 12-18 inches deep in the soil.

: By nature, onions are biennial plants. They grow from a seed, to a plant, and then into a dormant bulb the first year. Then, in spring, the bulb begins growing again and produces a flower spike. Fertilized flowers produce seeds, and the life cycle is complete.

: If you remember, these onion seeds were started from seed in early February, which is about two months before the last frost in the area. Johnny’s Selected Seeds carries many varieties of certified organic vegetable seeds. http://www.johnnyseeds.com/

: It is good to start larger onions from seed, so they can be harvested the same year. Smaller onions can be planted directly into the ground.

: The seeds were stored in the greenhouse until they were big enough to plant outdoors.

: Here are the onion plants one month after seeding. Onions are high in vitamin-C, a good source of fiber, and with only 45-calories per serving, onions add a huge amount of flavor to any dish. Onions are also sodium, fat, and cholesterol free – just keep them away from your furred friends as they are highly toxic to pets.

: And here they are being planted into the ground – time goes fast. Wilmer uses a dibber to make the holes for each plant. When planting, grasp the onion plant at the top with the root end down and push it into the soil. The plant should be dropped about one-inch deep. Onions will grow quite large if planted properly and given enough space.

: But you can also use your finger. Onions grow best when the soil pH ranges between 6.0 and 6.8.

: It takes some time to plant all our onions – Wambui helps from the opposite side of the bed.

: One bed done – another two and a half more to go.

: Be sure the onion roots are well covered with soil, and that the top of the plant’s neck isn’t covered too deeply. If too much of the plant is buried, the growth of the onion will be reduced and constricted.

: Once the plant is in the ground, Wilmer firms up the soil around it.

: Onion plants generally grow from one to three feet tall and up to a one-foot spread. It is best to rotate onion crops. Last year, we planted our onions in the opposite side of this garden.

: Although the white onion makes up only five-percent of the American onion harvest, it is the all-purpose onion. It has pure white skin and sweet, mild white flesh. White onions are commonly used in sauces, pasta salads, and in Mexican and Southwestern cuisines.

: Yellow onions, such as ‘Ailsa Craig’, ‘Spanish’ and ‘Cortland’, have strong flavors. These onions are white inside, with yellow-brown papery skins. Their rich, onion taste is often used in French onion soup. Yellow onions are higher in sulphur than its white cousins.

: Red onions, sometimes called purple onions, have reddish-purple skin and white flesh, tinged with red. These onions are medium to large in size and have a mild to sweet flavor, though they contain less sugar than white or yellow onions. They are often consumed raw, grilled or lightly cooked to accompany other foods.