How to plant onions: step by step to grow onions at home or in the garden

The onion It is an essential vegetable in Mediterranean cuisine, and not only because it adds flavor to dishes, it is also full of healthy properties: it is heart-healthy, diuretic, has antiseptic properties and contributes to digestive health, among other benefits. That is why it is so interesting to include it in the daily diet.

AND what better than growing your own onions? If you dare to do it, here you will find everything you need to know about when, where and how to plant onions.

When should onions be planted and with what moon?

The time of year to plant onions depends on the variety. In general, they are cool season crops and in Spain seeds are usually planted in late fallas long as the soil temperature is between 10 and 23 °C, although it depends a bit on the climate of the area:

In areas of northern Spain such as Galicia or Asturias, onions can be planted at the end of summer or early autumn. In areas of central Spain such as Madrid or Castilla La Mancha, they can be planted in autumn, between September and November. southern regions such as Andalusia or Murcia, which are warmer, it is likely that you can plant them in winter, between December and February.

For best results, it is important select the variety of onion that best suits to the climatic conditions of the area and the terrain.

The planting of onions is influenced by the lunar phase. It is recommended to follow the lunar calendar

and plant them in late fall during the waning phase of the moon.

How to Plant Seedless Onions (With Seedlings)

Planting onions is a relatively easy process, but it does require a few steps. To plant the onions it is best to do it from seedlings that you can buy in nurseries).

Choose the right location. Onions like the sun and they need the land where they are to have good drainage. The area where you are going to plant them must receive, at least 6 hours of sunlight a day and there is no problem to plant it together with other plants, such as tomatoes, carrots or lettuce. It should also be borne in mind that onions grow best in soils with a pH between 6 and 7.

Prepare the soil for planting. The onions prefer soils with a loose texture, so it is convenient to loosen the ground to a depth of at least 15 centimeters and remove any rocks or debris that may be present. If the soil is very sandy, the bulbs that form are usually smaller and do not develop well. To transplant the seedlings, cut the stems a little so that the new shoots come out with more forcePlant it about 5 inches deep and keeping a distance of about 20 cm between one plant and another.

How to plant onions with seeds

You can plant the onions also from seed. To make it from seeds:

you can prepare a seedbed about 40 or 50 days before transplanting and when the plant has about 5 leaves and a little thickness, transplant it.It is important to leave an adequate distance between the onions, which is achieved by leaving about 40 centimeters between the different lines or grooves and about 10 centimeters between the individual plants.Normally , an onion plant produces a single onion, although in some cases several stems may sprout from the bulb, but only one onion is formed. After planting, it takes 30-40 days for the onion to flower, which means they will be available mid winter. During the winter, it is essential to take care of the onions and avoid frost.

How to plant onions from a sprouted onion

Attention, planting onion from an onion with a sprout will not provide you with new onions, but leaves that are also edible: they are finely chopped with scissors and consumed as if they were normal onions.

They are especially easy to grow and care for, since they usually already have small roots. Select onions that have small sprouts and are about to go bad. Place them in glasses of water with the bottom 3-4 cm submerged and the sprouts facing up.Change the water regularly so that the roots can thrive and the plant does not rot. After a week, plant these bulbs in a pot. You can also leave them in the glass of water and harvest them right there.

How to care for onion

Onions need a regular wateringespecially during dry periods, but are sensitive to excess moisture (which can rot the bulbs). After planting them, you should water them well. Then water them once a week (or more often if the soil is very dry) and see reducing the amount of water towards the end of the crop.

If the weather is dry, you can use a organic mulch (for example, from straw or shredded leaves) around the base of the plants to retain moisture, as well as to prevent weeds from emerging.

When to harvest the onions?

The onions are ready to harvest when the top starts to turn yellow and he falls. In general, this occurs about 4 months after planting.

Dig them up carefully and leave them in a warm, dry place for several weeks before storing. Here we tell you how to preserve onions.