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Onions are one of the most popular and versatile vegetables. Whether raw, roasted or braised, they add a special flavor to many dishes. Cultivation and propagation in the home garden are unproblematic.

In a nutshell

  • The onion (Allium cepa) belongs to the leek family (Alliaceae)
  • A distinction is made between table onions and vegetable onions
  • Onions tend to be small and flavorful, and are the most commonly grown in Germany
  • Green onions are larger, milder and significantly heavier
  • Different colors, shapes, degrees of sharpness and sweetness
  • Propagation via seeds and cuttings or onion sets possible

Propagate by seed

Appropriate seeds can be purchased or obtained from existing specimens. In order to be able to sow seeds in spring, they have to be taken out of the ground together with the flowers in autumn of the previous year and hung upside down to dry. The dry inflorescences are dried and then stored in a cool and dry place over the winter. About a month before sowing, put them in a warmer place with temperatures of at least 25 degrees.

Onions in the vegetable patch

Tip: To collect the seeds, you can, for example, loosely pull a paper bag, not foil, over the inflorescences.

carry out a germ test

Onion seeds generally remain germinable for up to three years. However, not every seed germinates. It is therefore advisable to test the germination capacity before sowing. All you need is a bowl of water and the seeds.

  • Fill bowl with water
  • Put the seeds in the water and wait
  • Viable seeds will sink to the bottom of the bowl fairly quickly
  • Non-germinable swim on the surface
  • Can be fished there with a fine hair sieve
  • Then pour the water with the good seeds through a sieve
  • Seeds capable of germination remain in the sieve
  • Then let the seeds dry for a while and then sow them

Best sowing time

The right time depends on the respective variety. Is it about summer or winter onions or about growing your own onion sets from the seed? Summer onions should be sown as early as possible, ideally from March to April, and winter onions between mid and late August. In order to grow onion sets yourself, the seed should be planted between the end of March and April.

preculture

In order to be able to harvest leeks as early as possible, a preculture is ideal for propagation. Young plants can be sown on the windowsill or in a heated greenhouse as early as mid-February.

  • To do this, fill small pots with growing substrate
  • Spread seeds on it
  • Onions, four to six seeds per pot
  • Green onions, one or two seeds
  • Plant the seeds about an inch deep
  • Cover and moisten with substrate
  • In the greenhouse, row spacing of 20-30 cm is recommended

Depending on the type of onion, the optimal germination temperature is 15-20 degrees and the germination period is between 14 days and three weeks. Initially, small, thin culms appear. As soon as they are a little stronger, they can be separated or planted out to five to ten centimeters depending on the variety.

Tip: In order to have a positive influence on the development of the onions and to protect against onion or carrot flies, a mixed culture with carrots is a good idea.

Propagate by direct sowing

For a harvest in the same year, sowing in the garden should be done early and preferably in a sunny location and in loose, humus-rich and, if possible, unfertilized soil.

  • First make grooves in the ground
  • About an inch deep
  • Distribute seeds in it, not too densely
  • Cover with soil and press down
  • Water carefully with the watering can
  • Germination occurs after two to four weeks
  • Separate young seedlings on onion starch
  • Sowing and harvesting spring onions within one year.

Tip: Onions obtained by seed usually have a longer shelf life than those obtained from onion sets. Late varieties in particular can be stored until March of the following year.

Grow your own onion sets

Onion sets for the coming year are sown directly into the bed at the end of April. You harvest the onion sets as soon as they have reached the size of a hazelnut. In order to be able to stick them in the next year, you let them dry and overwinter them in a cold but frost-free and dry place. About four weeks before planting, you put them in a warmer place with temperatures of at least 25 degrees.

Tip: Under no circumstances should these vegetables be planted or sown where leeks, chives, garlic or chives previously stood (cultivation break of at least five years).

Propagate over onion sets

Winter onions for the spring harvest are planted from August to October. They remain in the bed throughout the winter and mature in the spring. In the case of spring onions for the autumn harvest, the time corresponds to that of sowing. Even if onions are among the medium and weak consumers, they should not be fertilized. It is best to draw grooves again, this makes plugging easier. You stick them so deep that you can still see the top third of the bulb. Finally, the whole thing is watered.

frequently asked Questions

Can you use germinating onions for new cultivation?

Basically you can plant them like classic onion sets. However, it's not worth it, because you can't harvest onions from these much larger specimens. Only fresh greens form that can be harvested and used.

Which is better, stick or sow?

Onion sets are definitely the more convenient option. You save on sowing and separating, because the already pre-cultivated onions only have to be plugged in. However, onion sets are more expensive than seeds. In addition, onions that have been created by sowing have a much longer shelf life.

How do you prepare the soil for the leeks?

The bed in question should be weeded and the soil loosened up well. The addition of an organic fertilizer is recommended in the previous year, but never fertilize before planting.

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Vegetable garden