![]() Plant sets from early April to early May. The smaller sets can be allowed to develop into mature onions. The larger sets often bolt (produce a flower stalk) and don’t produce good-sized bulbs. ![]() For large storage onions, plants should be spaced 2-3 inches apart after thinning.īefore planting sets, separate the bulbs into two size groups - those smaller than a nickel in diameter and those larger than a nickel. Thin the planting when the seedlings are 2-4 inches tall. Cover the seeds with one-half to three-quarters of an inch of soil. Onion seeds should be planted as soon as the ground can be worked in spring (late March or early April in southern Iowa, early to mid-April in central Iowa, and mid to late April in northern portions of the state). Space transplants 1 inch apart when grown for green onions and 2-3 inches apart when grown for mature storage onions. When planting, place the roots and the lower white portions of the plants below ground level. Plant onion transplants from early April to early May. Early April to early May is the best time to plant onion seedlings in the garden. Bring the seedlings back indoors if nighttime temperatures are forecast to drop to 32 F or below. Then gradually expose the plants to longer periods of sunlight. Initially, place the plants in a shady, protected location. Harden or acclimate the onion seedlings outdoors for several days before planting into the garden. When the seedlings become 5 inches tall, clip them back to 4 inches with a pair of scissors. Thin the onion seedlings (within two to three weeks of germination) if the plants are crowded. Insufficient light and temperatures above 65 F promote spindly growth. Growing temperatures should be 55-65 degrees Fahrenheit. The light fixture should be placed no more than 4-6 inches above the seedlings. As soon as the seeds germinate, place the onion seedlings under fluorescent lights. Using a well-drained growing medium, sow onion seeds in flats or plug trays approximately eight to 10 weeks before you intend to plant them outdoors. However, it is also the most difficult as seed germination is sometimes sporadic, resulting in poor stands. Growing onions from seeds is the least expensive planting method. Gardeners typically select their planting method based on cost, use, availability and ease of planting. Onions can be grown from seeds, sets or transplants. Long-day cultivars produce larger bulbs, as they can produce more foliage before bulb initiation occurs. Short-day cultivars generally produce small bulbs when grown in northern areas because of the small amount of foliage present at bulb initiation. The amount of onion foliage present at bulb initiation is important, as the onion’s foliage manufactures food for bulb development. Long-day onion cultivars are the best choice for gardeners in Iowa and other northern areas. Short-day cultivars meet their photoperiod requirement and begin to form bulbs earlier than long-day cultivars. Day length (the number of daylight hours) determines when bulb development begins. ‘Yellow Sweet Spanish’ (yellow-brown skin, globe-shaped, short-term storage).Īn important aspect of onion bulb development is the photoperiod, or day length.‘Walla Walla’ (yellow-brown skin, flattened globe, short-term storage).‘Stuttgarter’ (light brown skin, flattened globe, excellent storage, from sets).‘Red Zeppelin’ (deep red, globe-shaped, excellent storage).‘Redwing’ (deep red skin, globe-shaped, excellent storage).‘Red Burgermaster’ (bright red, globe-shaped, good storage).‘Patterson’ (yellow-brown skin, globe-shaped, excellent storage).‘Copra’ (yellow-brown skin, excellent storage). ![]() ‘Candy’ (yellow-brown skin, globe-shaped, short term storage).‘Blush’ (brownish pink skin, globe-shaped, excellent storage).When considering onions for a home garden, the suggested onion cultivars in Iowa include: Follow the recommendations of Iowa State University horticulture specialists for successful onion growing. Onions are easy to grow and take up little space in the garden. ![]() AMES, Iowa – Onions are an indispensable vegetable in the kitchen.
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