Growing fresh produce in a garden is one of the most rewarding hobbies one can take on; what is better than cooking with ingredients that you watered, harvested, and cared for?
Onions are perhaps one of the most-used aromatics, so having a supply on standby in a backyard is, to put it lightly, ideal. We are getting onion-growing inspiration from none other than Martha Stewart, who recently shared a snap of her newly-picked, garden onions on her Instagram page.
Want to grow some of your own? We talked to an expert to find out when to plant onions, along with best practices to keep them healthy and thriving.
When considering how to grow onions, there are two main types of onion planters that can be grown in the garden; and one will yield faster growth than the other.
'Onions can be grown from sets or seed,' explains H&G's Gardens content editor Drew Swainston. 'Martha says she has grown hers from seed, and that is a fantastic idea as you usually get larger onions to harvest by growing them from seed.'
'Onions require 90 to 100 days to mature from seed, which is around four months,' Stewart states on her blog. 'From sets, onions are ready to harvest after around 80 days, or just under three months.' So, those looking for a slightly quicker turnaround can opt for a set.
As far as the best time to plant onions, Swainston says that the earlier the better – but not too early that a chill can disrupt growth.
'Sow seeds early in spring and plant the young onions outdoors after the frosts have ended,' he suggests. 'Onion sets are widely available too; they offer a very simple method of growing onions, and you can get a reliable crop from planting sets.'
Additionally, location is crucial to an onion's health, so Swainston says that we should opt for an area with plenty of sun and rich soil.
'The key to success with onions is to is to grow them in a sunny spot and plant them in fertile soil - mixing in organic matter ahead of planting gives them a great source of nutrients and feeding with a balanced fertilizer during the season helps develop great bulbs,' he explains.
Variants of onion are completely up to personal preference, though Stewart has some thoughts on the main varieties and what they can be used for.
'Yellow onions are full-flavored and are a reliable standby for cooking almost anything,' Stewart states on the blog. 'White onions are often used in prepared salads, white sauces, and classic Mexican cuisine. They’re also loved in soups, stews, braises, and rice pilaf.'
Below, we have rounded up some essentials for growing onions.
H&G's Onion Essentials
These certified-organic seeds produce a mild-tasting, yellow skin onion.
These bulbs brow a variety of small onions that you can plant or eat.
This quick-release, natural fertilizer feeds plants for up to two months.
