More and more people like to grow their fruits and vegetables for hobbies, self-satisfaction, and to control what they eat. However, growing fruits and vegetables in your backyard have some risks, do’s and dont’s, and there are some things you certainly need to avoid.
How to cultivate onions in your backyard
Things to consider when growing Onions:
- Onion temperature requirements are medium. They need temperatures from 13°C to 25°C (55.4°F - 77°F) and plenty of sunlight to thrive. Frost or extremely hot temperatures may prevent the bulbs from developing. In most onion-producing countries, the best period to start cultivating onions is during the second half of autumn or early spring.
- You can grow onions for green leaves or dry bulb consumption.
- The easiest way for amateurs to start growing onions is by planting sets or seeds directly in the ground.
- If you are considering starting to grow onions for dry onion consumption, make sure to buy certified seeds from a legitimate seller. Otherwise, the germination rates will probably be low, and you will lose time and money. You can use turf as a substrate for optimum aeration. If you are planning to grow more than one plant, make sure to leave at least 10 cm (4 inches) space between each plant. You will need approximately 80-100 gr per ㎡ . Make sure to keep the seeds moist until germination.
- The planting procedure of sets is quite easy as you only have to directly dig them into the soil at 2.5-5 cm (1-2 inches) depth, depending on the set size. You will need approximately 1-1.5 kg of sets per ㎡. Keep in mind that there is more than one type of sets on the market. Each of them is suitable for different purposes. Ask an agronomist.
- Keep in mind that onion requires at least 12 hours of day length to start forming bulbs. Thus, if you live in areas that do not meet these requirements, you may consider planting them only to produce fresh leaves.
- For fresh leaves consumption, try to find big and elongated sets, as they will develop more leaves.
- Onions generally have low tolerance in drought. On the other hand, they do not like soggy soil. Thus, you may avoid excessive irrigation. On average, onions need irrigation every 2-4 days. This, of course, is not a rule. Sandy soils may need more water as they cannot preserve enough water close to the roots. On the other hand, heavy clay soils, where there is probably no proper drainage, may need less irrigation.
- When it comes to backyard cultivation, many growers prefer to apply well-rotted manure or compost as fertilization methods during the growing period to increase mainly nitrogen and potassium in the soil.
- Onions mature and can be harvested 2-3 months after planting for their fresh leaves and up to 4-6 months for the dry onions (bulbs), depending on the production method, the propagation material used (sets or seeds), the climate conditions, and the variety of the onions. Onions for bulb consumption are ready to harvest by the time they lean on the ground, having more than half of their leaf area drought out.
References
https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-1616
https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/onions-in-the-garden
Further information
- Interesting Facts about Onions
- Onion: Info, Nutritional Value, and Health Benefits
- Onion Plant Information and Variety Selection
- How to Grow Onions At Home: Onion Growing Guide for Beginners
- Commercial Onion Farming - How to Grow Onions for Profit
- Onion Soil Requirements, Soil Preparation, and Planting
- Which Factors Can Affect Bulbing in Onions?
- Onion Water Requirements and Irrigation Systems
- Onion Nutrient Needs and Fertilization Requirements
- Major Onion Pests and Diseases and Sustainable Management Practices
- Onion Weed Management: How to Control Weeds in an Onion Field
- Onion Harvest, Yields, and Storage