Onion

A practical vegetable garden series

 

Grow reliable onions from seed or sets, then cure them for the kitchen and store.

 

Written for home gardeners in Hungary

CHAPTER WELCOME

Your onion season starts here

This book follows the whole journey: seed → seedling → garden → care → harvest → kitchen → next season.

Onions are one of the most useful vegetables to grow at home. Start with small bulbs called sets for the easiest route, or grow from seed for a wider choice of varieties. Give onions a sunny bed, steady moisture while the bulbs swell and a weed-free space, and you can harvest crisp bulbs for cooking and storing.

In Hungary, plant spring onion sets as soon as the soil can be worked, usually from March into April. Onion seedlings and young sets can handle cool weather, but hard frosts and cold spells can encourage some plants to flower early. Near Győr, choose a sunny, free-draining bed and a variety suited to Central Europe. Harvest from summer into early autumn, then dry the bulbs well before storing.

Our Hungarian calendar

 

 

The rule for this series: dates guide us, but the plant and the weather make the final decision.

CHAPTER 1

Meet the Onion

Onions grow a rounded storage bulb beneath a fan of upright leaves.

The common bulb onion (Allium cepa) is a member of the allium family, along with garlic, leeks, shallots and chives. Its edible bulb is made of fleshy leaf bases wrapped in papery outer layers. Onions come in yellow, red and white varieties, with flavours ranging from mild and sweet to sharp and savoury. Most gardeners grow them as an annual crop, lifting the bulbs before the plant flowers.

Sets or seeds?

 

Two easy ways to start a bulb onion crop

·  Sets: small, dormant bulbs; the simplest and quickest choice for beginners.

·  Seed: takes longer but offers a wider choice of varieties.

·  Bulb colour: yellow, red and white onions have different flavours and uses.

·  Green onions: thin seedlings can be harvested young before bulbs form.

·  Storage types: firm, well-cured varieties usually keep longer.

·  Day length: choose a long-day or intermediate type for Central Europe.

 

CHAPTER 2

Choose Your Onion

Choose a bulb colour and flavour you enjoy, then pick a variety suited to your growing area.

Ask yourself five questions

1.         Would I like yellow, red or white onions?

2.         Do I want the easy start of sets or the wider choice of seed?

3.         Can I give onions a sunny bed with free-draining soil?

4.         Can I keep the bed weed-free while bulbs develop?

5.         Do I want to eat the crop fresh or store some for winter?

A beginner-friendly first planting

 

 

 

CHAPTER 3

Let’s Sow

Onions can be grown from sets or seed. Sets are small bulbs from the previous season, and are the easiest option for a first crop. Seed takes more patience, but gives you more varieties to choose from. In Hungary, start indoor seed in late winter or sow outdoors in spring as the soil becomes workable. Plant sets in early spring, not too early in cold, wet ground.

When to sow in Hungary

For bulbs from seed, sow indoors in February or March in modular trays about 1 cm deep. Keep the compost slightly moist and place it in a bright spot. Harden seedlings off gradually and plant them out in March or April, when soil is workable. For direct sowing, make shallow drills in March or April, about 1.5 cm deep, with rows 25–30 cm apart. Plant sets in the same spring window, 10–15 cm apart in rows 25–30 cm apart, with just the tips showing. Adjust dates to the weather and the packet advice.

What you need

·  Onion seed or spring-planted onion sets

·  Modular trays and seed compost if starting indoors

·  A sunny bed with fertile, free-draining soil

·  A rake, hand fork and watering can

·  Labels, netting or fleece to protect new sets from birds

Sowing, step by step

1.         Choose a sunny bed and remove weeds before you begin.

2.         Rake the soil to a fine, level surface; do not add fresh manure.

3.         Sow seed about 1.5 cm deep, or plant sets with their tips just showing.

4.         Label the row and water gently if the soil is dry.

5.         Thin seedlings gradually, leaving 10–15 cm for bulbs to develop.

 

 

CHAPTER 4

Seedling School

Onion seedlings begin as slender green shoots. Give them good light and protect new rows from birds, then thin gradually so bulbs have room to grow.

Recognise young onions

Onion seedlings have narrow, upright leaves that emerge like fine green loops or blades. Keep them in bright light so they do not become weak and floppy. Water seedlings gently and keep the compost slightly moist. If you sowed directly, thin the row in stages, using the smallest pulled seedlings as green onions. Firm the soil around sets if birds have lifted them.

Why are some onions flowering?

Flowering, or bolting, can happen after a cold spell when plants are young, or when a large set is planted. A flower stalk takes energy away from bulb growth and the onion will not store well. Plant spring sets at the right time, choose heat-treated sets if available, and remove any flower stalks as soon as they appear. Use bolted onions fresh rather than storing them.

Water while they settle

Water after sowing or planting if the soil is dry. Onion roots start out shallow, so young plants need moisture while they settle in and begin growing. Keep the bed evenly moist during dry spring weather, but avoid waterlogging. Container-grown onions need more frequent checks than those in the garden.

Feeding

Onions grow best in fertile soil enriched with mature compost before planting. Avoid fresh manure and excessive nitrogen, which can delay maturity and make bulbs harder to cure. If the soil is poor, use a balanced vegetable fertiliser according to its label. Check that plants are not competing with weeds before adding more feed.

 

 

CHAPTER 5

Ready for the Real World

Onion sets and seedlings are hardy enough for cool spring weather, but wait until the soil is workable and protect newly planted sets from birds.

Before planting: check the plants and the bed

1.         Choose firm, healthy sets without soft or mouldy spots.

2.         Plant spring sets when the soil is workable, not cold and waterlogged.

3.         Harden indoor-grown seedlings off gradually before planting out.

4.         Prepare a sunny bed with fertile, free-draining soil.

5.         Firm the soil around each set and water if the ground is dry.

When is it ready in Hungary?

Plant spring onion sets from March to April, as soon as the soil can be worked. Onion seedlings are more tolerant of cool weather than tender crops, but severe frost after a warm spell can stress young plants and encourage bolting. If a sharp cold snap is forecast, cover newly planted seedlings with fleece and wait for the soil to drain before planting sets.

Near Győr, March or early April is usually a good window for spring sets, while seed can be started indoors in February or sown directly in spring. Cold, wet clay soil warms slowly, so use raised beds or wait until it is workable. Follow the variety packet, especially if growing autumn-planted overwintering onions.

 

 

CHAPTER 6

Give Them a Good Home

Sunshine, open soil and careful weeding help onions grow full, firm bulbs.

The right place

Choose a sunny, open site with fertile, free-draining soil. Onions have shallow roots and do not compete well with weeds, so clear the bed before planting and keep it weed-free. Mix in mature compost ahead of time if the soil needs improvement. Avoid fresh manure and places where onions or related alliums have recently grown, to reduce disease build-up.

Spacing

For most sets and transplanted seedlings, leave about 10–15 cm between plants and 25–30 cm between rows. Closer spacing gives smaller bulbs and is useful if you plan to pick some as green onions. Give large storage varieties more space, about 15 cm apart, and follow the seed packet for your chosen type. Keep rows shallowly cultivated so you do not damage bulbs or roots.

Planting day

1.         Water seedlings and prepare a moist, weed-free bed.

2.         Make a shallow hole or drill for each set or seedling.

3.         Set onion bulbs pointed end up, with the tip just above the soil.

4.         Firm soil gently around each plant and water if the soil is dry.

5.         Cover new sets with light netting if birds are a problem.

Growing in pots

Onions can grow in a large container at least 45 cm wide and deep, with good drainage. Fill it with fresh, fertile potting mix and space sets about 10 cm apart. Planting more closely is fine if you will harvest some as green onions. Containers dry faster than garden beds, so check moisture regularly and keep the pot free of weeds.

 

CHAPTER 7

Water, Feed & Keep Them Growing

Regular moisture early on and a clean, weed-free bed help onions size up well.

Watering

Keep onions watered during prolonged dry spells, especially while leaves are growing and bulbs are beginning to swell. Shallow roots mean they can dry out quickly in light soil. Water at the base in the morning and try not to wet the leaves. Once bulbs have reached full size and the tops begin to yellow and fall, stop watering so the crop can mature and cure.

Mulch

A light mulch between rows can help conserve moisture and suppress weeds, but keep it thin so the soil does not stay soggy around the bulbs. Onions need regular hand-weeding because their narrow leaves shade little of the ground. Pull weeds gently or hoe very shallowly to avoid damaging roots and developing bulbs.

Feeding

A bed prepared with mature compost usually has enough nutrients for onions. Too much nitrogen can keep the leaves growing late, delay bulb maturity and make the necks difficult to dry. If plants look pale or growth is poor, check soil moisture, weeds and sunlight before applying a balanced fertiliser according to the label.

Keep plants healthy

Check rows regularly for weeds, yellowing leaves and flower stalks. Remove any flower stem as soon as it appears, and use that onion fresh. Protect newly planted sets from birds until they root in. Rotate onions and other alliums to a new bed each year, and water the soil rather than the foliage to reduce the risk of fungal problems.

 

CHAPTER 8

Bulbs, Tops & “What Is That?”

The leaves and neck give useful clues as the onion bulb develops. Keep an eye on the crop so you can respond before problems affect storage.

Why are my onions small?

Small bulbs can result from overcrowding, late planting, poor light, weeds or dry soil while the bulbs are swelling. Thin plants to the spacing on the seed packet and keep the bed weed-free. Some varieties are naturally smaller, and closely spaced onions can be harvested young as green onions. Do not cover the swelling bulbs with soil; they naturally push up toward the surface.

The beginner’s trouble guide

 

 

 

CHAPTER 9

Can I Pick It Yet?

Yes—pick onions young for green onions, or wait until the leaves yellow and begin to fall for mature bulbs.

What “ready” looks like

You can harvest green onions as soon as the stems are thick enough to use. For mature bulbs, wait until the leaves start to yellow and about half of the tops have fallen over. Lift the bulbs carefully with a garden fork before the foliage dies down completely. Handle them gently, as bruises and cuts can lead to rot in storage.

Harvest from summer into early autumn

 

How often should I check?

Check the crop weekly from midsummer. Harvest a few onions young if you want green onions, and watch for the first yellowing and toppling leaves on mature plants. Lift the crop on a dry day and cure it in a warm, airy place for about two weeks, until the outer skins and necks are dry. Use damaged or thick-necked onions first.

 

 

CHAPTER 10

From the Garden to the Kitchen

Fresh onions bring sweetness, savoury flavour and a delicious aroma to everyday cooking.

The first rule: cure bulbs before storing

Brush dry soil from the bulbs and use fresh onions while their skins are still soft. For storage, spread sound bulbs in a single layer in a warm, dry and well-ventilated place for about two weeks. Turn them occasionally and keep them out of damp weather. They are ready when the outer skins are papery and the necks are dry and tight.

Match onions to the dish

·  Yellow onions: a versatile base for soups, stews and sauces.

·  Red onions: slice raw into salads, sandwiches or pickles.

·  White onions: use fresh in salsas and quick-cooked dishes.

·  Green onions: chop the leaves into salads, eggs and soups.

 

Storing fresh onions

Store fully cured onions in a cool, dry, airy place, in a net bag or open tray. Check them regularly and remove any soft or mouldy bulbs. Do not store them in sealed plastic, where moisture builds up. Keep fresh green onions in the refrigerator and use them within a few days.

When you have more than you can use

Chop or slice extra onions and freeze them in small portions for cooked dishes. Frozen onions soften after thawing, so they are not ideal raw. You can also pickle red onions for the refrigerator. Cure storage varieties completely before putting them away, and use any damaged bulbs first.

CHAPTER 11

Next Season Starts Now

A few notes on variety, planting date and storage will help you get better onions next season.

Keep a tiny garden record

·  Variety name, colour and seed or set source

·  Date seeds were sown or sets were planted

·  How the soil drained and which bed you used

·  Whether plants had enough water and space

·  When tops began yellowing and falling over

·  How long the bulbs cured before storage

·  Which varieties stored and tasted best

Saving seed and planning another crop

Onions are usually grown as annuals and harvested before they flower. They are biennial, so a bulb left in the ground through winter can send up a flower stalk and set seed the following year. Different onion varieties can cross-pollinate, so saved seed may not come true to type unless flowering plants are isolated. For a reliable crop, buy fresh seed or sets each year.

1.         Choose a healthy, true-to-type bulb and keep it for planting.

2.         Store the bulb cool and dry, then replant it the following spring.

3.         Allow the plant to flower and form seed heads.

4.         Collect seed when the heads dry and seeds turn dark.

5.         Label the variety and year, and store seed cool and dry.

 

 

COME GROW WITH ME

ONION CHEAT SHEET

The page to come back to when you have soil on your hands and no time to reread the whole book.

 

 

 

COME GROW WITH ME • ONION

 Seasonal guidance is adapted for Hungarian home gardens.