It’s Onion Time

Onions are relatively slow germinating, and they grow more slowly than most other seedlings.   An onion variety that has done well here is Candy.  It is a large, sweet onion that stores well until the end of December.

Plant the onion seed about a half inch deep in potting soil. Give each seed about one square inch of space in the pot. Keep the soil moist, but not wet. Place the container in the sunniest location you can. As the transplants grow you may need to add a small amount of a soluble fertilizer if the plants start to turn yellow. If the plants become spindly and start to fall over, clip them to about a 6” height.

In mid-to-late April plant your transplants in the garden. They should be planted about 6” apart. Keep the weeds out. A small amount of fertilizer should be lightly worked into the soil just before planting. Watering when the soil becomes dry will help to keep the onions sweet. Stop watering at the end of July.

Harvest in early August when 50 to 60% of the leaves have turned brown. You can begin eating your onions at any time as either green onions, or you can wait until they are fully mature.  Store onions in a well-ventilated, shaded area until all of the leaves are brown. Prune off the leaves leaving an inch of stem above the bulb. Store your onions in a container that allows air circulation and is in a cool place. A refrigerator works well.

For more information contact your local extension office. In Lackawanna County call 570-963-6842 or email LackawannaMG@psu.edu

John Esslinger, Extension Educator

Penn State Extension