Growing Onion

Allium cepa : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
  S                    
    P P                

(Best months for growing Onion in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. 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
  • Harvest in 25-34 weeks. Allow onions to dry before storing.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Lemon Balm, Borage, Carrots, Beets, Silverbeet, Lettuce, Amaranth
  • Avoid growing close to: Peas, Beans

Your comments and tips

10 Aug 22, vivian gibson (USA - Zone 9b climate)
I have texas grano onions to make set. blue lake pole beans, purple hull peas, tomato(transplant),Bell pepper (Trans plants) when do I plant? putting them in my big pots these are all going into large pots.
01 Aug 22, Caridad Pupo (USA - Zone 8b climate)
Id like to grow some granex onions like the Texas Grano. Can I sow the seeds now in seed trays and plant them outside n September? Do the onions become dormant when the weather gets cold?
15 Jul 22, carmen rodriguez (USA - Zone 8b climate)
can i grow onions from bought from store ? i cut bottom of onions put in water as soon as it starts growing roots i plant them . when should i plant them and i have not been successful im in zone b please help me .
06 Oct 22, Melinda Schwab (USA - Zone 8a climate)
Absolutely! We do all the time! We always cut the onions we buy horizontally in half when cooking and carefully peel down to the middle chunks where you can see how many "dots" are gonna be onions next year. We have a big patch of sandy loose soil that has a lot of chicken manure and/or compost here or there that we plant all of them in. We plant them an inch or so under the soil (totally covered up is best but not too deep) and we do not break them apart first. They grow into BIG beautiful onions in a year or so if you give 'em a drink of water when its dry for weeks. AND they make seeds too! Good seeds if you let them dry all the way out! We love getting free food from cooking scraps... with a bit of pre-planning on slicing the onions right to begin with... Try replanting carrot tops if you want fresh seeds... the top 2" of a regular carrot grows into fluffy foliage and sends up nice fresh seed heads in late summer. Freebies are fun!
02 Jun 22, Rick Nuffer (USA - Zone 7a climate)
do walla walla onions grow well in Utah?
06 Apr 21, Duke Rick (USA - Zone 8b climate)
What is the best time to plant Maui onion seeds in my zone?
05 Jan 22, don (USA - Zone 10b climate)
when you are on this page - just above the title
02 Apr 21, Debbie h. (USA - Zone 9b climate)
Can you plant onions that already have a green stem coming from it? Like ones in fridge if not used fast enough .
22 Jun 21, Jayne Matzkin (USA - Zone 9b climate)
I've done it. You take the outside layers off until you reach the layers the green stem is attached to and plug it in your garden. They become a bigger version of themselves. I see this a way of not wasting that onion and tossing it.
07 Oct 22, Janelle (USA - Zone 10a climate)
Yes, I just did exactly that this summer. Instructions on previous reply are correct.
Showing 21 - 30 of 44 comments

Since you are having problems with your Texas Grano -- I would recommend going to an Egyptian walking onion (or other walking onion). Video abojut the onion can be found here: https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=walking+onions&mid=17F7CAB6E4A914745E4A17F7CAB6E4A914745E4A&FORM=VIRE Additionally: the walking onion originated from a cross between the Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum), and the common onion (Allium cepa). The Egyptian walking onion, Allium x proliferum, is a member of the allium family and a great addition to the perennial vegetable garden. Egyptian onions go by many names, including tree onions, topset (or topsetting) onions, and walking onions. The seeds are slow growing, and can take several years for them to grow and flower. That’s why people grow them mostly from established bulbs. Every part of the Egyptian walking onion is edible, including the bulb in the ground, the stems, the flower, and the aerial bulbils. There are different varieties -- some zones 3-9 others 3-10. I would select a 3-10 for your area -- additionally some types grow substantial bulbs under ground -- others have small underground bulbs -- so select your variety based on your need. There are white, brown and purple walking onions. There is also the RED CATAWISSA WALKING onion -- which is not classified as an Egyptian walker -- but is still a walking onion: this variety for its larger sized bulbs and topsets that are much larger than the typical walking onion. All parts of the plant are edible. Walking onions are a standard choice for permaculture gardens and food forests -- they are very low maintenance - and very reliable -- so a good choice for anyone having difficulty growing regular onions.

- Celeste Archer

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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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