- Their scientific name of onion is Allium cepa.
- Onion is a biennial plant treated as an annual crop.
- Onion bulbs are, in fact, transformed leaves.
- Onions form bulbs under specific temperatures and photoperiod conditions (day length).
- Instead of forming flowers on top of the flower head, some onion types produce tiny bulbs.
- The edible parts of the onion are the bulbs and the leaves.
- Allyl propyl disulfide in onions is why we cry when we open-cut them.
- Onion is native to central Asia, and the region around Pakistan and Afghanistan are considered the centers of origin.
- Egyptians have being consuming onions since 3200 BCE (before the common era)
- Alexander the Great introduced onions to Greece and Europe during the 4th century BCE. The crop arrived in America around 1494 with the Columbus crew.
- Greeks like Homer, Hippocrates, and Theophrastus referred to onion’s medical properties.
- Onions are cultivated almost everywhere in the world.
- India is the biggest onion producer country, followed by China, the U.S.A., Turkey, Japan, Iran, Pakistan, and Spain.
- It is considered a profitable but labor-intensive crop.
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
