Because my life has been revolving around the garden and spring planting I decided to do a plant series with all the information I have been researching about each plant that is going into my garden, complete with a printable page to add to your garden journal. I would love for you to leave comments on any growing or gardening tips you may have that go the with plant spotlight so we can all help each other, after all this blog is all about living and learning together. I want to start the series out with one of my favorites: Onions.
Onions are from the lily family and the genus Allium which include garlic, chives, leeks, scallions, and dozens of varieties of onion. You can visit Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds here, for a wide selection of heirloom varieties to plant in your garden.
Seed Starting and Propagation
Onions are very versatile when it comes to planting. You can start onions from seed, plant sets (year old onions that are planted like garlic bulbs) or just pick up some pre-started transplants from the garden nursery. If starting your own seeds you want to start indoors 12 weeks before the last frost (2nd week February for zone 5). Onion sets and transplants can be planted directly in the garden 4 weeks before the last frost (2nd week in April for zone 5). Plant in full sun, 6" apart and 1/2" deep and for sets place the root end down and just barely cover the tips with soil. *Tip: if seedlings start to droop you can trim them with some scissors, this will not only make them grow thicker but as they grow back the plant will be strengthened, you can do this up until transplanting time.
Bunching Green Onions or Scallions
If planting green onions or scallions you can try sowing the seed directly in the garden once the soil has warmed. These are planted 2" apart and can be harvested anytime, as you cut them they will continue to grow giving a continuous onion supply throughout the season. *Tip: don't let those wilting green onions in the fridge go to waste, go out an plant them in your backyard.
Care
Onions like rich, well drained soil so mix some compost into your soil before planting. Water every couple of days until the plants are well established and then mulch to retain moisture and keep weeds at bay. Here is a great post on mulching from Old World Garden Farms. Once established, water once or twice a week, if it is hot and dry water more to keep the shallow roots moist.
Companion Planting
Don't plant where root crops were planted the year before and avoid planting with peas or beans. You can plant with any member of the cabbage family, beets, strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce, summer savory and chamomile. Rotate your onions each year to avoid pest and disease problems. For bunching green onions that are like perennials replant every two to three years in a different spot.
Harvesting/Preserving
Once the onion tops have wilted stop watering and when they turn yellow to brown and fall over they are ready to harvest. Pull up the plants carefully and leave in the sun for a few days to dry out. Bring them indoors and continue to cure for another two weeks in a well ventilated area. Once cured you can braid the tops and hang in a cool dark place, you can also store in nylon by tying off under each onion to make an onion "necklace". When you are ready to use just cut the knot off below the onion to release it. Some varieties store better than others so you may want to take that into consideration when choosing a variety.
Nutrients and Medicinal Uses
Onions have many of the same healing properties as garlic due to the allium contained in them. They can boost the immune system, reduce cholesterol, protect heart health, strengthen bones, break up chest congestion and protect the body against harmful bacteria and viruses. People used to place an onion cut in half in the room of a sick person, it would turn black as it absorbed the germs and bacteria in the room and the person would heal much quicker. For this same reason it is not a good idea to eat an onion that has been sitting out for a while.
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