Planting Onions 5-27-09

by Farmer Dave
(Northern California)

This year we are planting my onions a little late but as they say better late than never. It has been such a cool wet spring it has been hard to get all my garden bed preparations done.

We planted onions a lot earlier last year. On 5-26-2010 I planted both keeper onions and early eaters this year. This year will be a late year for eating onions. We usually are just finished eating our stored keeper onions around the summer solstice (June 21st) when our first early eating Walla Walla onions come on.
Onions are a real staple at our place; Walla walla onions are a sweet early eater and Copra are a good keeper onion that will keep all the way until your Walla Walla's are ready!
Onions add essential flavor and vital nutrition to our diet. Rich in potassium, iron and vitamin C, not to mention good dietary fiber. Onions have been linked to cancer prevention and lowering cholesterol levels.

Soil: Onions like moist fertile soils. Give onions a little compost or manure when you plant and then top dress with some manure after a month or so, and lots of water from the start.

Culture: Onions can be planted outside in the fall if you live in a warm place that has no frost or only light frosts. If you live in a colder area plant in flats in a green house. Onions develop quickly in the spring and mature in early summer.
Early onions are usually on the table by the summer solstice. Start your onions in the green house between November and February and plant out in April or early May. We recommend the transplant method.

Plant in flats 1/4" deep and let the seed almost touch each other. Harden off plants when they are 4"'s high before transplanting. Onions should be planted 4" apart in rows 8-10" apart. Water deeply 3 times a week, onions thrive with lots of water and will grow large bulbs. Days to maturity are from the date of transplanting.

Some people have good success planting onion sets. Onion sets often go to seed especially the bigger ones. Use the smaller onions if you choose to use sets.
If you would like to learn more about growing organic gardens check out my "victory garden ebook" a step by step guide to growing an organic garden.

Have a great Day!