DIY Network

Onion Types Onion Types From "Fresh from the Garden" episode DFFG-124

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	Onions are sensitive to light, especially the duration of light they get per day. Onions come in two main varieties: long-day onions and short-day onions.
	To grow onions, the soil needs to be loose and fertile, so add compost to improve its consistency.
	Once all of the soil is mixed and loose, use a metal-tined rake to smooth the bed and to get rid of any clumps of dirt.
	Try planting 3 different types of onion seeds in your garden; each type with a different flavor and shape.
	Red Delicious is a jumbo red hybrid that takes about 100 days to mature.

• Onions are sensitive to light, especially the duration of light they get per day. Onions come in two main varieties: long-day onions and short-day onions. Based on where you live, you’ll need to choose the variety that’s best for your area. Generally if you live north of 35 degrees latitude, you need long-day onions and if you live south of 35 degrees latitude, you’ll plant short-day onions. The line of 35 degrees latitude runs along a line from about Charlotte, North Carolina to Amarillo, Texas and on to Bakersfield, California. Geography has a strong effect on plant growth; latitude is important because the distance from the equator determines how much heat and light a plant will get during the day and throughout the growing season.

• To grow onions, the soil needs to be loose and fertile, so add compost to improve its consistency. The bulbs of the onion need to be able to expand easily so soil texture is important. They are moderate feeders so they don’t need a lot of fertilizer, but they do need some. Along with the compost, add some 10-10-10 fertilizer. Use a pitchfork or a shovel to mix everything together.

• Once all of the soil is mixed and loose, use a metal-tined rake to smooth the bed and to get rid of any clumps of dirt. Use a hoe to make wide rows, 12-15 inches apart. Mound the soil on the rows, being careful not to pack it down as you work. If your soil is moist you’re ready to plant. If your soil is very dry, dampen the rows slightly using a mister attachment on the end of a water hose. Only water enough to dampen the soil, not enough to run off or make puddles.

• Planting onion sets. Try a variety called White Sweet Spanish, they’re a sweet hybrid that grows well in southern climates. Pick them up from a local nursery all tied up in a bunch. The best way to make a hole for an onion seedling is with your finger, planting them four inches apart. They only need to go in the dirt about an inch and a half. Poke a hole and put the seedling in, then gently press the dirt in around it.

• Continue planting the onion seedlings until you fill up 2 rows. Onions don’t need much room to grow so you can get lots of onions in a small space. Onions are easy to thin if they get too crowded. Young onions can be pulled and eaten just the same as if they had matured all the way. As the onions grow, sweep back the dirt so they can expand above the ground level as well as under it.

• Try planting 3 different types of onion seeds in your garden; each type with a different flavor and shape. Plant Sweet & Early Hybrid, a white hybrid onion with a large, globe-like shape. Its big size and mild flavor make it a great choice for any garden. This onion takes about 90 days to mature from seed and the stems will fall over when the onions are fully grown. Sprinkle the seeds a few inches apart along the top of the row, then cover them with a quarter inch of soil and let them grow.

• The second type of onion to try is Red Delicious. It’s a jumbo red hybrid that takes about 100 days to mature. Red onions have a lot of flavor as well as nice color. The skins are almost purple even though the meat is white. A lot of white and red onion hybrids, have been adapted to grow well in almost any part of the United States.

• The final type of onion seed to try is called scallions. Scallions are a green bunching onion that take anywhere from 60-120 days before they’re ready to harvest. These types of green-stemmed onions can be picked any time, it depends on whether you like to eat them small and tender or whether you prefer them to be taller and thicker. You can plant these in the spring or fall. An easy way to plant small seeds is to use a pencil to make a small trough and then just sprinkle the seeds in and cover with dirt.

• Once all of the onions are in the ground, lightly spray the rows with a mist of water. Seeds and seedlings need to be watered everyday until they get established. If the ground is too wet the seedlings will rot and if they’re too dry they’ll wilt. An even amount of moisture is best, so check the soil each time before you water. Once the bed is watered, add a light dressing of pine mulch around the onion seeds. You will need to add a thicker layer of mulch once the seedlings are 2-3 inches tall.