Garden calendar for the kitchen garden - vegetables and herbs. See what to plant right now and for next month.

Growing Onion

(Allium cepa)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
	S		T	P	P	P	S		T

(Best months for planting Onion in Australia - cool/mountain regions)

S = Plant undercover in seed trays. T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings. P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.

Easy to grow.
Harvest in 25-34 weeks. Allow onions to dry before storing.
Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed.
Best planted at soil temperatures between 46°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
Space plants: 2 - 4 inches apart

Onions come in a range of colours and shapes and sizes. Brown :- strong flavour and pungent. Usually good keepers for storage. White :- milder but still flavoursome. Keep fairly well. Red :- Mild, suitable to use raw in salads and sandwiches. The seedlings should be allowed to gain a bit of strength before planting out - usually 4 to 6 weeks will be enough. When they are big enough to handle, you can plant out. They start off looking like blades of grass.

They don't have to be in a greenhouse (though that would be ideal), any sheltered spot will do. The idea is to guard against rapid changes of temperature, especially at night.

Onions can be bought as young plants (sets) from garden shops/nurseries to plant straight into garden beds. Choose your variety according to your climate and the time of year as some onions will grow better in the cooler months .

Onion bulbs should sit on the surface of the soil. Do not cover. They will take six to eight months to mature. Onions are ready when the tops start to dry and fall over. Pull them and leave to dry for a few days. Store in a cool, dry airy place. Use a net bag or make a string by weaving the tops together.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Onion

Brown onions roasted whole with other vegetables are delicious.
Red onions add colour to salads or stir-fry.

Your comments and tips

12 Jul 10, Sue Summers (Australia - temperate climate): I live in the Bass Strait Islands north of Tassie, I want to know the best onions to plant for making pickled onions (brown variety). Also how do I know when to harvest them?
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17 Apr 10, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate): Fritz - a cool place for storing onions is in a bottom cupboard or similar. Anywhere that doesn't get hot. They tend to go mouldy in a fridge
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16 Jan 10, Fritz (Australia - temperate climate): My Brown Onions seem to be ready to harvest.How do I store them? What is a cool Place ? Do i keep them in the Fridge or just in the Kitchen cubboard? In Paper Bags/
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25 Oct 09, mick (Australia - temperate climate): hi i use to grow hunter river white onions and just cant find where i can buy seed anymore .I live in the wollindilly distric ?
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07 Oct 09, Annie (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I have the same issue as Kate. My onions are looking great, getting bulbs. I don't want to wait too late in case they start bolting. But I don't know when to harvest them. Or to bend the stems over or just pull them, which is what I've done before. They still have thick stems.
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02 Oct 09, Kate (Australia - temperate climate): My onions have now got flower pods at the top but never really got round at the bottom like an onion should. Everything says wait till the stems fall over and dry out but I also saw that when they flower they are no good. Help I am confused as to what to do. Do I just pull them all out and plant something else?
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08 Sep 09, Ani (Australia - cool/mountain climate): Hi, Just wondering, is there any chance you can put an onion that has started shooting roots in water and have it grow? Thanks.
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11 Aug 09, (Australia - temperate climate): I have geown onions for sometime with very ittle success, why don't the bulbs swell?
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27 Jul 09, Barb (Australia - sub-tropical climate): Hi Mel, if you select the climate zone for your area in Australia, then the planting guide will tell you which months you can plant onions in your area.
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29 Jun 09, Mel (Australia - cool/mountain climate): i am interested in planting onions, does this chart shown about growing months occur to Australia?
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I have geown onions for sometime with very ittle success, why don't the bulbs swell?

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See planting calendar for these countries and climate zones

Australia - arid, Australia - cool/mountain, Australia - sub-tropical, Australia - temperate, Australia - tropical, New Zealand - cool/mountain, New Zealand - sub-tropical, New Zealand - temperate, United Kingdom - cool/temperate, United Kingdom - warm/temperate, USA - Central West Coast, USA - Maritime Northwest, USA - Mid-Atlantic, USA - North East, USA - South East and Gulf States, USA - South West, USA - Upper Midwest

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.

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