Welcome to the wonderful world of onion farming! Onions are a great vegetable for beginners, and as long as you master a few key points, you can reap a bountiful harvest. Onions are a fundamental ingredient in countless dishes, and growing your own is surprisingly rewarding. This guide will walk you through the simple steps from a tiny seed to a crunchy, home-grown onion.
To Choose
Not all onions are the same! They are categorized by the daylight they need to form bulbs:
Long-Day onions：Best for northern regions with summer days of 14-16 hours.
Short-Day onions: Ideal for southern regions with milder winters and shorter summer days.
To Plant
Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before your last expected spring frost. This gives them a long enough growing season.Fill a tray with moist seed-starting mix. Sow seeds ¼ inch (6 mm) deep and cover lightly. Mist with water.Place the tray in a warm spot (65-70°F/18-21°C). Keep the soil moist. Seeds will sprout in 7-14 days.
To grow
Once sprouted, provide plenty of light (a sunny window or grow light). Thin out seedlings, keeping the strongest ones. When seedlings are about the size of a pencil and outdoor soil is workable, transplant them to the garden. Plant them 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) apart in rows 12 inches (30 cm) apart. Plant in a sunny location. Water consistently, especially during dry spells. Onions have shallow roots. Feed with a balanced fertilizer every few weeks.
To Harvest
You can harvest them at any stage as scallions.They are ready when the tops (leaves) turn yellow, brown, and flop over.Gently lift the bulbs from the soil. Let them dry (cure) in a warm, dry, well-ventilated area out of direct sun for 2-3 weeks. This allows the outer layers to dry and form a protective papery skin.
To store
After curing, trim the roots and cut the tops down to 1 inch (2.5 cm). Store your onions in a cool, dry, dark place with good air circulation, like a mesh bag or a basket. Properly cured onions can last for months!
Where to buy onion seeds
liliseeds sells a variety of onion seeds, including red onion, white onion, yellow onion and sweet onion seeds. Please visit our website: https://www.liliseeds.com/