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How to Grow Onions
This page will focus on providing written and visual instructions on how to grow onions. We will be growing the Candy variety.
The Candy is a slightly flattened yellow onion which has potential for large size, especially when sown for overwintering in its optimum 338-408 latitude range.
Think of it as a Walla Walla type for growing farther south. Some growers report success at higher latitudes.
Days to Maturity: Approx 290 if late summer-sown and wintered over; 110 if spring-sown
Before trying to grow onions though read our page on
Growing Onions
so that you have an idea what type to grow in your area. I did not know this but certain types can only be grown in certain areas by latitude.
According to our Lunar Planting page, onion seeds need to be planted from the 19th of September to the 25th.
Our onions will not be ready to harvest until next spring sometime.
The area I planted outside got washed out by all the rain we had. However the plants I planted inside the greenhouse are doing quite well. Soon I will need to thin them. When I do this I will transplant some to the area that got washed out.
This is what true gardening is about. Things do not always go according to plan.
9-21-09
I was able to plant my onions on the 25th as planned.
In the picture below is my onion seed in the hand spreader.
I dug a furrow about two inches deep and one inch wide. Then I broadcasted my seeds in the furrow. I planted generously knowing that not all the seeds will germinate. I will probably have to do some thinning or even transplanting, but this is preferable to having empty space where the seeds did not germinate.
In the picture below is my onion trench. Once my onions are about three inches tall, I will put down a weed barrier.
In the past when I have planted seeds, I bury the seeds and cover them over so that the area is even with the rest of the garden. I decided to use this furrow method for several reasons:
One is to know exactly where to expect the seeds to come up.
Another it will be easier to water.
I buried the onion seed according to the directions on the package which stated 1/4 to 1/2 inch.
Below is a picture of the dirt I used. I sifted this dirt to try to get some fine dirt for covering the seeds. My soil is in really good shape this time and beings that it is in the raised bed, it is also deep. I should have some good onions this time.
Update:
02-09-2019
The video below shows my Candy onions. They are finally starting to do some growing so I had to thin the out.