With correct soil situations, spacing, and water, onions are a “set it and neglect it” sort of crop. Whether or not you’re rising them in raised beds, containers, or floor soil, they like unfastened, fertile, well-draining soil excessive in natural matter in an space that receives full solar.
The world of onions is one you will get misplaced in simply. There are a lot of intense and refined flavors to select from, together with whites, reds, and yellows, and you could possibly develop a brand new selection yearly to seek out your favorites. For a uniquely candy pink onion, strive ‘Crimson Amposta’ or the persistently massive, candy, juicy heirloom ‘Walla Walla.’
I choose to develop a mixture of onion varieties, a few of that are finest for recent consuming and others that can final by way of the winter for all my soup, casserole, and pasta dishes. Let’s focus on the three tell-tale indicators that it’s time to reap your onions.
Days to Maturity
Most onion varieties take between 90 and 130 days to mature from seed and are prepared to reap sooner when began from units. Report the times to maturity from the seed packet and plan accordingly. Growers in most areas can sow onion seeds indoors round March or April to be prepared for transplanting when the spring climate breaks and the soils heat barely.
Southern growers can begin them as early as January with some warmth and humidity management to assist germinate and keep away from damping off. Followers will assist bulk up the onion necks in preparation for true hardening off and transplanting.
Phases of Onion Progress
The three levels of onion maturation embody:
Like garlic, the plant focuses its power on above-ground development throughout this stage. You need your onions’ leaves to be massive, as this can be a good indication of the dimensions the bulb will turn into. Constant and deep watering is essential throughout this stage. For those who don’t present ample water, untimely bulbing could result in small onions and yields.
Do you know?: Every leaf straight correlates to a layer of onion pores and skin rising across the onion beneath the soil floor.
Generally, the next varieties shall be profitable in various zones:
- Zones 7+: short-day varieties
- Zones 5 and 6: day-neutral varieties
- Zones 1 to five: long-day varieties
Quick-day varieties start when daylight reaches 11 to 12 hours, intermediate or day-neutral varieties at 13 to 14 hours, and long-day between 15 and 16 hours. Choosing the right day size on your rising zone is essential.
Improper choice will possible lead to a number of foliage however little to no bulbs. Growers within the mid-section of the US could have success with both quick or long-day varieties, relying on their location.
For those who’re uncertain, experiment with day-neutral varieties. Why is that this essential? The size of the day signifies to the onion plant that it’s time to begin changing carbohydrates discovered within the leaves into bulbing power. The day-length sort you chose will decide when bulbing begins.
Throughout this stage, the plant stops placing power into rising foliage. You’ll discover the soil floor cracking and transferring round on the base of the necks as power shifts to below-ground development and forming bulbs.
You wish to harvest your onions earlier than this stage, because the bulb received’t proceed to develop as soon as it sends up a flower and goes to seed. Professional tip: For those who’re rising an open-pollinated selection and it’s a secure distance away from others, you’ll be able to go away it’s to gather and save the seeds as soon as they’re prepared.
Whereas bolted onions are nonetheless edible, a few of their storability is misplaced, so use these recent earlier than the cured ones. To forestall this from occurring prematurity, keep away from nerve-racking situations by retaining them watered, particularly throughout drought situations, defending them throughout excessive temperature fluctuations, and spacing them correctly at transplant.
Research present that growers in northern areas can efficiently overwinter onions planted in November or December protected inside low tunnels or greenhouses or with heavy straw mulch, with harvest occurring in Could or June. Choose cold-hardy varieties like ‘Bridger’ or ‘Talon’ for the most effective outcomes. Keep in mind, the times to maturity could prolong what the seed bundle says once you overwinter as a result of they go dormant within the winter.
Softened Neck
The neck softens when the bulbing onion not must obtain vitamins from the foliage, indicating that it’s virtually time for harvest. In preparation for curing and storage, it’s nature’s technique to type a cut-off space from the neck to the bulb, stopping moisture or illness from reaching the bulb. The foliage will start to brown and crisp.
Professional tip: You possibly can harvest onions earlier than their necks are tender for fast use. You’ll discover the neck is juicy when lower into, as vitamins and moisture stream from prime to backside. These onions is not going to retailer effectively; you need to use them inside every week of harvest.
Fallen Over Tops
You’ll comprehend it’s time to reap onions if the leaves flip brown and flop. New gardeners could get a little bit nervous when their onion foliage turns brown, crisp up, and falls over, however don’t fear, it’s regular! “Tops down” is part of onion maturation and shouldn’t trigger fear.
When the plant not wants to drag power (carbohydrates) from the foliage, the leaves die again, signifying to growers that it’s nearing time for harvest. Growers ought to anticipate almost 90% of the tops to fall over earlier than harvesting.
It’s best to have a transparent view of the onion bulb now. As soon as the tops have fallen again, there should still be time between this stage and harvest. Hold your eye on the wrapper, as this precisely signifies correct storability. Give the plant extra time if there’s inexperienced on the wrapper. Every onion ought to have about 13 layers for the most effective storage.
Pre and Submit-Harvest Care
Storage onions will recognize one final mild watering after all of the leaves have dried and the tops have fallen over. Doing so permits them to breathe moisture; watering sweeter varieties a bit heavier will improve their taste. Stop all watering for one to 2 weeks earlier than harvest to permit the drying course of to start.
Plan to harvest onions within the morning to permit them to dry within the solar for the day or the 2 or three following. Gently coax them out with a digging fork to keep away from damaging them, shaking off extra soil. Yanking them out could trigger bruising, negatively affecting their storability. You could cowl them with straw or a shade fabric whereas they dry within the solar to stop sunscald.
As soon as harvested, correctly curing and storing onions are very important steps of their long-term shelf-life, so don’t skip them! Correct airflow and circulation throughout curing helps to take away all remaining moisture and seals the bulb. The foliage that is still needs to be fully brown and really crunchy.
Utilizing clear, sharp shears, take away the foliage and roots earlier than storage. Depart the outer skins on to shield them throughout transport and storage, peeling them again simply earlier than use. In case you are rising the onions to promote, you could take away the outer layer to make them extra interesting and marketable. Generally, yellow onions are inclined to retailer finest.
With correct successive planting and choosing the right varieties on your rising zone, you shouldn’t have any gaps in onions to make use of all 12 months!