Do you need a special location for the onions?
Bulb plants are quite undemanding in terms of location and soil. However, to avoid certain diseases and pests, there are a few tips to keep in mind. Especially the infestation from the wrong one mildew and the spread of onion fly can be prevented by choosing the right location. Basically - especially in regions with high humidity - it is advisable to grow the bulbs in a sunny place that is not sheltered from the wind.
also read
- Correct planting time for onions
- Propagating onions - instructions for the ambitious gardener
- Growing onions - everything you need to know in a nutshell
The addition of fresh organic fertilizer to prepare the beds is not recommended. This should be worked in a few weeks before plugging in. For the sowing In spring, the soil can be dug up with compost in autumn so that it can still settle. Mixed cultivation with carrots or beetroot has a beneficial effect. On the other hand, different types of onion do not get along well together.
When is the best time to plant?
- Winter onion: August to October
- Summer onion: late March-early April
- Onion seeds: late March-early April
How are the bulbs planted?
Sown or It is planted in weed-free and well-loosened soil. When planting the onions, it is important not to put them completely into the ground; the tip should remain visible on the surface. Depending on the variety, the information on the row spacing and sowing depth can vary greatly, please note the information on the seed bag. As a guideline for sowing / sticking the onions:
- Depth approx. 2 cm
- Row spacing approx. 20-30 cm
- Distance between plants 5-10 cm
To reduce the risk of lapping, preferably small Onions (approx. 15 mm diameter) that have been stored at temperatures between 25 - 35 ° for about a month before plugging. Please also note the corresponding information on the packaging.
When are the onions harvested?
The harvest time for onions sown in March-April begins in August. If more than half of the leaves have changed color and have fallen over, the time for harvest has come. In the case of the faster-ripening onion sets, this can be the case as early as July. In between, the fresh leeks of the onion plants that are still ripening can be cut as required. It is only necessary to ensure that the individual plants are not pruned bare, otherwise they will not continue to grow.
It is advisable to harvest the onions on dry days. A few weeks before To harvest the soil should no longer be watered heavily so that the tuber is easier to dry later. The overwintered onions are harvested from the end of May in small quantities for daily needs. These onions are not suitable for storage. Some types of onions, such as B. the winter hedge are used exclusively for cutting fresh leek greens.
Can you propagate the onions yourself?
In view of the large selection of onion seeds and onion sets on offer at very reasonable prices, the effort with the appears to be Propagating onions not worthwhile. Unless you've discovered a particularly good-tasting and high-yielding onion and want to keep growing it. Then you should try to get the seeds from it for sowing next year.
To do this, a couple of plants are allowed to bloom, which is actually not desirable when growing onions and should be avoided. If the plant forms an inflorescence with seeds, these are harvested together with the other bulbs and are best dried while hanging. Once the seed capsule has dried, you have enough seeds for the coming gardening season. These seeds can be used to grow onions for use in the following year.
Which plants are suitable for the home garden?
First you should decide whether you want to grow onions from seeds or onion sets. The latter is common and less expensive. So if you are new to growing vegetables in the garden, you should choose this route and fall back on the well-proven types of onion sets, such as. B. Stuttgart giants. For a skilled gardener, growing onions from seeds can be more of a challenge.
A large selection of winter and summer onion varieties is available in specialist shops. For the spring harvest, the winter onion sets are planted in the months of August to October; summer onions are chosen for the summer harvest from July. If you want to have the onions for storage, the sown onions are preferred because they are easier to store.
Tips & Tricks
If your onions have not reached the desired size, they will probably dry up over winter. For this reason, onions that are too small should be used as winter onions. Put a little deeper into the prepared soil, they are suitable as a substitute for chives in spring.
