Strictly speaking, the term “breeding” means developing new varieties. In general, however, “breeding” is used as a synonym for “growing”. In this post you will learn everything you need to know about growing onions.
How do I successfully grow onions in the garden?
To grow onions you need a sunny, airy location and well-drained, weed-free soil. Plant onion sets in autumn or spring, or sow seeds from the end of March. Harvest occurs approximately 4-6 months after planting when the foliage yellows and breaks.
Onion sets or seeds?
The onion set is better suited for faster harvest success. You plant them in the ground in autumn (winter onion sets) or in spring (summer onion sets) and let them grow. Depending on the variety, the harvest takes place around 4-6 months after cutting. Onions grown from seeds take a little longer to ripen. These are better suited for storage.
Which location is preferred?
A sunny, airy spot in the garden ensures good yields. The soil should be permeable and free of weeds. The beds for planting or sowing in spring should be dug up with compost in autumn. Adding fresh organic fertilizer immediately before planting is not recommended.
When is the right time to plant?
The onions can be planted from August to October for the spring harvest, and around March-April for the autumn harvest. Onion seeds are also sown from the end of March. You can grow the seeds on the windowsill or in the greenhouse from February onwards, so that the seedlings can go outdoors in March-April.
When is harvesting?
The winter onions are ready to harvest in May if the weather conditions are favorable. The harvest of summer onions begins in July. The sown onions are harvested between August and October. You can recognize a ripe onion when its leek turns yellow and snaps off.
How do you propagate onions?
You propagate onions by allowing some plants to flower and letting the seed capsules dry. The seeds remain viable for about three years. Another option is to grow onion sets from seeds. To do this, you sow the seeds closely and harvest the bulbs as soon as they have reached the size of a hazelnut.
Tips & Tricks
If you combine planting onions in autumn and spring with sowing onions, you have fresh onions from your own garden available practically all year round.
