If the only thing you’ve ever successfully cultivated are onions sprouting in the pantry, here’s how to grow them properly in your backyard so you can have sweet onions all year around.
WATCH: Beef, Sweet Potato And Caramelised Onion Strudel
Nothing beats fresh produce, especially the pride and joy that comes with growing your own. If you’ve always wanted to know how onions grow, we’ve rounded up a guide and tips to get you started.
How to grow onions
Aspect
Onions need plenty of sunshine – a full sun position for six hours a day will suffice.
Climate
Most Aussie climates are suitable.
Soil
Well-drained soil with plenty of compost. Onions like a sweeter soil of around 6.5 pH, that is high in organic matter, but not overly rich.
Water
Regular watering so the soil is damp, but not wet.
Fertiliser
Use an occasional liquid fertiliser.
Maintenance
Once they are growing, onions don’t need a lot of care just try to keep the weeds away.
Tips for planting onions in your garden
- Select varieties grown locally.
- You can grow your onions from either seed or seedlings – just make sure the plants aren’t too overly developed as they might flower early.
- Seed is sown in autumn or winter, always follow the directions on the packet for sowing times.
- Seed is sown in rows about 30cm apart, with the seed only about 5mm deep. Don’t panic if the seedlings come up too thickly, as you can thin them out to about 10cm apart. You can choose to either transplant these thinnings or use them as spring onions.
- You can also sow the seeds into punnets for later planting, or buy seedlings ready to go. Seedlings are planted about 0.5–1cm into the soil.
- Grow onions in different parts of the garden from year to year to reduce soil-borne pests and diseases
- They need about 6 months in the ground to grow. When the leaves yellow off, it’s time to harvest.
- Store onions in a dry, dark place.
Can you grow onions in pots?
Onions can be grown in pots, but you will need to grow a few plants to make it worth your while. Consider growing them in small individual pots or one large container.
Companion plants to onions
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