Onions
Red onionHow do I sow red onions outdoors?
To sow red onions outdoors, we recommend doing so in spring, when the soil is sufficiently warm. First prepare the soil by carefully weeding it and working it deeply so that it is well aerated.
Then sow the red onion seeds about 1 cm deep and 10 cm apart. Make sure you water regularly to keep the soil moist, but not over-watered, as onions don't like standing moisture.
It's important to keep an eye out for weeds that could smother onion plants and remove them regularly. Also, adding a layer of organic mulch around the plants will help keep the soil moist and limit weed growth.
How do I plant red onions?
To successfully plant red onions in the ground, it's important to choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Favour a soil rich in organic matter and avoid soils that are too compact. Red onion bulbs are best planted in spring, from March to May. Before planting, divide the bulbs into small pods and leave them to dry in the shade for a few days.
Create shallow furrows in the soil and space the onion pods about 10 to 15 centimetres apart. Then cover them with soil and tamp lightly. Be sure to water well after planting to encourage rooting. It's best to space the rows about 30 centimetres apart to allow the bulbs to develop.
It is important to hoe regularly and water moderately to encourage red onion growth. Avoid chemical fertilisers and opt for natural gardening methods for a healthy, environmentally-friendly crop.
How to harvest red onions successfully?
To grow red onions naturally, it's important to plant the bulbs in autumn for harvesting in July the following year. Choose a sunny, well-drained spot, spacing the bulbs about 10 cm apart. Red onions are undemanding in terms of soil, but prefer soils rich in organic matter.
Red onions are harvested when the foliage begins to yellow and wilt. Pull the bulbs out of the ground and then leave them to dry in the shade for a few days. Once dry, cut the stems to about 2 cm above the bulb. Red onions keep well in a cool, dry place, away from light. They can keep for up to 6 months, provided they are stored correctly.
Red onion
- Type : Vegetables
- Subtype : Bulb vegetables
- Botanical Family : Liliaceae
Characteristics
- Lifecycle : Annual
- Exposure : Full Sun
- Frost Hardiness : Frost Resistant
- Cultivation Difficulty : Easy
- Adult Height : 30 cm
Sowing & Planting
- Greenhouse Growing : Not Required
- Sowing Depth : 2 cm
- Plant Spacing : 10 cm
- Row Spacing : 20 cm
Maintenance
- Maintenance : Low
- Water Requirements : Moderate
Seeds
- Soil Type : Humus-rich
- Soil pH Preference : Neutral
- Pest Sensitivity : Moderate
- Disease Sensitivity : Moderate
- Weed Sensitivity : Moderate
- Pollination : Insect-pollinated
- Propagation : Sowing