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Those are some great tips for successfully growing onion sets and slips!
Sunlight:
- Onions thrive
in full sunlight, which is essential for their proper growth and
development.
Soil Preparation:
- Prepare the
soil several weeks before planting by adding manure, mushroom compost,
and/or sand.
- Ensure the soil
is loose, fertile, and well-draining with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
- Keep the soil
loose throughout the growing season to reduce stress and increase bulb
size.
Planting:
- Plant onions in
wide rows for maximum production.
- Form mounds
about 6-8 inches high and 20 inches wide.
- Create a
4" wide by 4" deep fertilizer strip in the center of the mound.
- Plant bulbs
shallowly, no more than 1” deep and about 2” from the outside of the
mound.
- For “green
onions,” plant 2-3 inches apart. For full-size onions, plant 4-6 inches
apart.
- Consider
planting 2-3 inches apart and harvesting every other one as a green onion,
leaving the remaining plants to mature.
Fertilization:
- After 1 month
of growth, side-dress with 10-10-10 fertilizer or feed foliage with a mild
solution of fish or seaweed emulsion.
- Promote top
growth in the early stages by side-dressing every 3 to 4 weeks.
- If growing on a
mound, add more fertilizer to the strip every 3 to 4 weeks.
Growing/Harvest:
- For “green
onions,” harvest every other onion, allowing the remaining bulbs to grow
into full-size onions.
- Keep soil
pulled away from the upper 2/3 of the bulb to promote size.
- Prevent plants
from flowering.
- Water regularly
until tops begin to yellow, then withhold water to allow skins to ripen.
- Fold tops over
to let the sun reach the bulbs, and once dry, pull onions and place them
in the sun to dry.
- Store in a
cool, dark, dry, well-ventilated place.
These tips should help you grow strong, healthy onions and maximize your
harvest!
Ready to get your hands dirty and start planting?
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