Planting onion using seedlings is the only way to go in my low opinion . Let ’s talk about why !
Onion organ transplant are a great fashion to get a head start out on growing grown , healthy onion . buy transplants instead of seeds allows you to skip the indoor growing stage and go straight to plant outside . With the right planting technique , your onion transplanting can fly high and produce a bountiful harvest .
When to Plant Onion Transplants
Timing is important when planting onion plant transplants , Onions are stale hardy but transplants need time to give stem before hot summer weather get , The ideal window for planting is 4 - 6 weeks before your last expected springiness frost Plant too early and the cold soil will shock the transplants Plant too deep and the heat will stunt their development , Check with your local agricultural extension service for frost dates specific to your part ,
Preparing Your Soil
onion need nutrient - full-bodied , well - draining grease to grow their in effect . meliorate your soil with compost or other organic matter to amend drainage and nutrient content . Allium cepa choose a soil pH between 6.2 - 6.8 . Test your soil pH and add caustic lime to leaven the pH or sulfur to bring down it as need .
Work the fertilizer into the top few inch of soil before constitute . Choose a balanced fertilizer with an NPK ratio like 10 - 10 - 10 or one with a slenderly higher atomic number 15 level .
Planting Depth and Spacing
right planting depth and spacing ensures your onions have enough room to size up onion plant transplants should be planted 1 inch deep with just the bottom portion sink Planting too profoundly can suppress bulbing ,
Space the transplants 4 inches apart if grow to maturity . you may set closer , 2 inches aside , if harvest some as green onions .
Allow 16 in between beds with 36 inches between plant food trenches . Avoid overcrowding to prevent rivalry for nutrients .
Planting in Trenches
plant in trenches or raise beds improves drainage and nutrient absorption . hollow trenches 4 column inch inscrutable and 4 inches wide . Sprinkle 1⁄2 cup fertiliser per 10 feet of wrangle length and cover with 2 inches of stain before planting transplants .
found the onions along the sides of the trench , not in the bottom . entrust a 2 in buffer between transplants and deep edges prevent washout .
Proper Planting Techniques
manage transplantation mildly when planting to avoid damage the roots . cautiously break up each industrial plant and works upright at the recommended depth . Firm the stain around each transplantation to remove air pockets .
Water transplants immediately after planting and daily for the first week if rainfall is insufficient . intoxicate the soil soundly without washing out the plants .
Ongoing Care
Weed every week to foreclose competition . Apply a side salad dressing of atomic number 7 fertilizer like ammonium nitrate 4 - 6 weeks after planting when plant are 6 - 12 inches tall .
Provide 1 - 2 inch of water per week by rainfall or irrigation . Onions have shallow stem and need reproducible moisture . Mulch around plant life to keep dirt moisture and trim down skunk .
Be prepared to take measures to thwart pest like onion thrip which can damage developing bulbs . Make certain to harvest onion plant promptly once the tops come down over and dry . Curing reap onions properly maximize storage life .
With the right planting techniques and care , your Allium cepa transplants will reinforce you with bountiful , picture - arrant bulbs . Pay close attention to proper planting depth , spacing , soil grooming and ordered moisture . in no time you ’ll be enjoying homegrown onions collapse with fresh flavor .
Troubleshooting Common Onion Transplant Problems
Even when planted by rights , onion plant organ transplant can still prevail into issues . Here are some common problems and how to remedy them :
Leggy or falling over : Transplants started too early indoors can become leggy and light over after embed . Use a sports fan indoors to strengthen stems . imbed a little deeper or sustenance with wager .
Not bulb lump : Bulbing requires farseeing daylight . Start transplant indoors no more than 10 - 12 weeks before your last saltation frost engagement .
- florescence :* * Some kind bolt rapidly in hot weather . flora early on - maturing , passion - tolerant varieties .
Misshapen / double bulb : Overcrowding moderate to abnormal bulbs . Allow proper spatial arrangement between plants .
Stunted flora : Compacted soil , overwatering , pests , disease , or alimentary deficiencies can stunt growth . Improve drainage , avoid overwatering , and remedy any pesterer / disease issues .
decompose bulbs : Excess moisture leads to bacterial soft decomposition . Allow soil to dry out between watering . Avoid waterlogging .
Pay close attention after planting to espy any issues ahead of time . Taking prompt action can help minimize transplant shock and keep your craw thriving .
Best Practices for Onion Transplant Success
Test and amend soil to onion preferences well before planting .
sentence planting 4 - 6 week before last bounce hoar .
Plant in deep / raised beds to improve drain .
countenance proper spatial arrangement between transplants .
Plant 1 inch mysterious , tops just above soil surface .
water system newly planted organ transplant day by day if rainfall is lack .
dope weekly to prevent competition for nutrients .
Side garb with N fertilizer 4 - 6 weeks after planting .
Maintain coherent land moisture of 1 - 2 inch per workweek .
Take action immediately if pests like thripid found on plants .
Harvest promptly once superlative descend over and cure bulb well .
Planting onions by Sets
Onion set are partially farm onions . They are usually no larger than an in or so . When plant just below the ground in early outflow , these sets sprout and grow into full - grown Allium cepa bulbs . Many folks plant onion this way and have keen winner . I plant onions this path for the first ten years we had a garden , and we always get a respectable crop .
The problem with onion sets is that the sets are actually in their 2nd twelvemonth . Onions are biennial plants , which intend they sprout and grow a bulb in their first year . These bulbs will grow again the next year if they are not picked the first year . They will send up a blossom straw and make seeds .
The problem with hardening is the plants “ think ” they are in the second year if planted by set . You have a mountain more problem with bloom stalks , and the bulbs never get as cock-a-hoop because the plant are too busy make flowers and come .
Do n’t get me incorrect , a lot of multitude are gravid at mature onions from set . But if you engraft them this manner , you wo n’t get bigger onions that last longer .
Third, you can buy them directly from the growers, online!
This has been the good method for me . The agriculturist that I buy from ( Dixondale Farms ) harvesting and wad the seedling right in the field and then ships them out to me . They make it less than a week from being harvested and I can put them right back into the ground in my garden !
Also , they know precisely when to plant them in my area , so they are sent to me at the precise prison term I should be planting ! ! Many growers volunteer great discounts for bulk orderliness , so call up your neighbor or a gardening club and buy a lot at once . That often will get the price below $ 3 . 50 for a bundle of 60 plants ! .
This Transplanting Method for Onions Is a GAME CHANGER
FAQ
How deep do you plant onion transplanting ?
Do onions organ transplant well ?
How big should onion seedlings be before transplantation ?
Can onions be transplanted ?
you may transplant onions from exist onion plant or buy bareroot onion bundles for transplant . you could even start the seed indoors to be transfer later . For those in the northern US : You will be starting onions at least 8 week before the last hoar of winter .
How do you plant an onion plant flora ?
fix the planting bed by adding fertilizer as described above . Amend soil as postulate with well - compost organic matter . Planting in mound rows help ameliorate drain in heavy filth . Plant transplant or onion plant sets 1 to 1½ column inch deep in rows 12 to 18 inch aside . Space transplantation 4 inches aside within the rows .
How do you transplant onion seedlings ?
Onions also need the grime to be loose . Compact dirt subdue bulb growth . So , be indisputable to smartly till the planting layer . If you have a muckle of mud in your soil , you may augment it with sand or vermiculite . Traditionally transplant Allium cepa seedling involved a extra tapered cock roll in the hay as a dibbler .
How far aside should Allium cepa transplants be planted ?
When planting onion transplants into several rows of onions , leave 16″ between the outside edge of one bed , and the outside border of the next . The spatial arrangement from the center of one fertilizer trench to the marrow of the next should be 36″.
