Red, brown and white onions: cultivation and varieties

Onions come in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes. We at Plantura will show you the best types of onions and tips for growing them in the garden.

It may surprise some, others already suspect it: the onion (Allium cepa) belongs to the leek genus. The term "onion" may be somewhat irritating in German, because in this case it means both the plant species as well as the plant part bulb, which is used to store nutrients and moisture serves.

There is something mysterious about the onion. On the one hand, its origin has not been clarified to this day, on the other hand, real wild forms can no longer be found. The species most closely related to the onion comes from what is now Iran and Turkmenistan. However, it is known from excavations that onions have been deliberately cultivated for more than 4000 years. The onion is therefore one of the oldest vegetable plants known to mankind. Consequently, it is not surprising that the onion is very varied.

Synonyms: Bolle, house onion, garden onion, edible onion, kitchen onion, spring onion, onion leek

Growing onions in the garden

The onion is a popular plant in your own garden. The cultivation is successful, the harvest is rich and the aromatic onions can actually be used by any amateur cook.

Sandy loamy soils and loess soils are particularly popular with onions. In general, the soil should have been loosened well before cultivation. It is essential to ensure that you do not introduce too much nitrogen into the soil. Also, no fresh manure may be added.

Onions can either be sown or planted. Again and again we receive inquiries as to whether onions can really be sown from the end of February. A resounding yes! is the answer. Because the onion seeds germinate at just a few degrees above zero. To avoid disease, onions should be sown (or planted) with a spacing of 10cm between plants and 25cm between rows. be plugged in). In climatically favorable regions, onion sets are planted as early as autumn. If the climate is a bit rougher, you should wait until mid-May.

Fertilization is usually not necessary if you have prepared the soil well. While loosening the soil for planting, incorporate a portion of well-stored compost. If you overdo it with nitrogen fertilization, the green of the onion will grow rampant. However, this significantly delays the development of the onion.

A detailed step-by-step guide can be found here: Growing onions: sowing, care and harvest time.

onion varieties

The onion is very varied. This was hardly surprising to botanists, since the onion has many related species and has been cultivated since time immemorial.

You can find a comprehensive article about all common types of onions here: Onions: choosing the right varieties to grow.

Harvest and store onions

Except for the spring onions, all onions are harvested as soon as the foliage turns slightly discolored and begins to wilt. Depending on the location and variety, the harvest can take place between July and September. If you use onion sets instead of seeds, you can generally harvest a little earlier. When harvesting, the onions are carefully lifted out of the ground. The foliage should also remain intact. If the weather is dry, the onions should continue to ripen outdoors in the sun for a few days or let them dry. dry. During this time, the onion still draws substances from the leaves. When the foliage is completely dry, the bulbs can be hung on the foliage. Alternatively, you can also remove the foliage. Onions should be stored dry, not too cold and above all in the dark. Good storage varieties can be kept in a proper storage place until the following year's harvest. As a rule of thumb, the later and firmer the onion ripens, the better it can be stored.

Onion: ingredients and uses in the kitchen

The ingredients of the onion have been the subject of controversy for a long time. On the one hand, the onion is not particularly rich in vitamins. However, some minerals such as potassium, calcium and magnesium are included. However, the positive effect of onions on humans is said to be primarily due to their sulfur-containing compounds. These are said to have an antibacterial effect, which is why the consumption of raw onions is said to relieve colds in folk medicine. The onion contains about 30 kcal per 100g.

Onions can be used in many ways in the kitchen. It is an essential component of soup vegetables and is good in salads or as a topping for bread. Fried and roasted, they are often served with cheese spaetzle or with onion braised meat. As a topping for steak or burgers, the onion can also be fried and then candied.

pests and diseases

Onions mostly grow healthy and robust. In some cases, fungal diseases such as downy mildew infest the plants. A well-drained soil is important here, so that no waterlogging forms. Also, the plants should not be placed too close together. In this way, diseases can spread more quickly and the plants dry less quickly after rainfall. However, the onion fly is more important than downy mildew. They use the vegetables as a breeding ground for their offspring. This causes the onion to eat away. Rotting organisms can penetrate more easily. The onion then often begins to rot. If you don't get the offspring under control, they can lay their own eggs a few weeks later. A second generation of the pest then often infests the few remaining plants. A protective net is particularly useful as a countermeasure. This should seamlessly cover the onions from April to May.

The following products have proven themselves in our garden:

• Neudorff – Atempo copper fungus free: spray against many fungal diseases; environmentally friendly and not harmful to bees.
• NEUDORFF – Fungisan rose and vegetable fungus free: Beneficial, not harmful to bees pesticide with very good long-term effect
• NEUDORFF pest protection net: Reliably protects your plants from pests

A popular variant of the kitchen onion is the shallot. We provide an overview of the cultivation, variety and harvest of the leek plant.