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Onions are healthy and have their place in the kitchen. Growing it in your own garden is not too difficult. With the right planting neighbors at your side, a good harvest of the onions is guaranteed.
In a nutshell
- Onions love sun and warmth
- these leek plants are weak to medium feeders
- good neighbors promote growth, health and a good harvest
- Carrots, cucumbers, lettuce and beets go well with onions
- bad neighbors are cabbages, beans and potatoes
Onions need sun
Onions (Allium cepa), regardless of whether they are shallots, spring onions, bunch onions or storable kitchen onions, all varieties should always be grown in the vegetable patch in mixed cultures with other vegetable or herb plants. However, there are a few things to consider:
- Onions are weak to medium eaters
- Location: full sun and warm
- Soil: rich in humus, loose, evenly moist
- no waterlogging
- small proportion of clay in the soil advantageous
- deep loosening of the soil one week before application
- Regular weed removal after sowing/planting
- regular watering
However, the planting neighbors of the onions are also of great importance. There are bad neighbors here with whom the onions don't get along at all, but also various good neighbors who harmonize well with the onions.
Notice: When growing onions, a certain crop rotation must be observed. Onions should only be planted in the same location every four years, otherwise there may be an increase in pest and disease infestation.
Good neighbors for onions
Good plant neighbors not only benefit from cultivation in the immediate vicinity of onions, but also have a positive influence on the growth, health and crop yield of the leek family. Some good neighbors are listed alphabetically below.
from A to J
Savory (Satureja hortensis)
- weak feeder
- Growth height up to 30 cm
- white or violet flowers from July to September
- sunny to partially shaded, dry place
- not too heavy soils
- does not tolerate fertilizers
Borage (Borago officinalis)
- annual "cucumber herb"
- Growth height up to 60 cm
- Flowering time May to August
- blue flowers in loose panicles
- sunny to partially shaded place
- no special demands on floors
- Sow directly outdoors from April
Dill (Anethum graveolens)
- aromatic annual herb
- Growth height up to 75 cm
- sunny to partially shaded location
- not too dry, well-drained soil
- no waterlogging
- Sow from April
- Promotes the germination of seed onions
Notice: Dill plants should be quite dense to protect the lower stems from drying out.
Strawberries (Fragaria)
- perennial rose family (Rosaceae)
- Full sun, slightly sheltered from the wind
- deep, loose and humus rich soil
- pH 5.5 to 6.5
- only plant strawberries in the same location every four years
- Planting time mid-July to late August
- protect against snails and voles and
- Onions protect strawberries from fungal diseases such as gray mold
Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus)
- annual gourd (Cucurbitaceae)
- full sun and sheltered from the wind
- humus rich and loose soil
- Preculture from mid-March
- Direct sowing May to June
- Harvest July to October
from K to O
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
- annual daisy family (Asteraceae)
- Growth height 20 to 50 cm
- white flowers from May to August
- full sun location
- humus-rich, slightly loamy soil
- Harvest time May to August
Carrots (Daucus carota)
- annual umbellifer (Apiaceae)
- orange to reddish-yellow tubers
- sunny to partially shaded, warm location
- loose, deep, humic soil
- Direct sowing from March to the end of June
- in mixed culture with onions: expulsion of onion and carrot flies, as well as leek moths
Chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium)
- annual umbellifer (Apiaceae)
- Growth height up to 60 cm
- Herb with aniseed taste
- white flowers from May to September
- sunny to partially shaded location
- slightly moist, loose soil
- Preculture from the beginning of March or
- Sow direct outdoors at the end of March
- Harvest time April to September
Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
- annual umbellifer (Apiaceae)
- aromatic herb
- Growth height up to 60 cm
- sunny place
- well-drained, loose soil
- white flowers from June to July
Garlic (Allium sativum)
- perennial lily family (Liliaceae)
- Growth height 30 to 90 cm
- white to pink flowers from July to August
- sunny place
- humus and nutrient-rich, loose soil
- planting in April
- prevents fungal diseases and drives away spider mites
Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
- perennial subshrub
- Growth height up to 50 cm
- sunny place
- nutrient-rich, preferably calcareous soils
- sensitive to frost
Chard (Beta vulgaris)
- biennial goosefoot plant (Chenopodiaceae)
- Growth height up to 50 cm
- sunny to partially shaded place
- nutrient-rich, well-drained, humus-rich soil
- Direct sowing from April to June
from P to R
Parsnips/parsley root (Pastinaca sativa)
- biennial umbellifer (Apiaceae)
- yellow flowers from July to September in the second year
- 6 cm thick, 40 cm long, yellowish-white beet
- sunny to partially shaded place
- Soil: loose, deep, slightly loamy, rich in humus, evenly moist
- Sow from March
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
- biennial umbellifer (Apiaceae)
- Growth height up to 60 cm
- sunny to partially shaded location
- no special demands on the soil
- Sow mid-March to mid-July
- regular watering
- prevents fungal attack
Radicchio (Cichorium intybus var. foliosum)
- biennial daisy family (Asteraceae)
- but mostly cultivated as an annual
- strong taproot with one or more leaf rosettes
- sunny to partially shaded place
- loose soil rich in humus and nutrients
- weak feeder
- Depending on the variety, sow from May
Rocket (Eruca sativa)
- annual cruciferous plant (Brassicaceae)
- actually a biennial plant
- sunny to partially shaded place
- fresh, loose soil
- Direct sowing from mid-March to September
Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
- annual herbaceous daisy family (Asteraceae)
- Growth height up to 70 cm
- yellow to orange flowers from June to September
- sunny location
- nutrient-rich, moist soil
- Sow directly outdoors from April
Beetroot (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris)
- annual goosefoot plant (Chenopodiaceae)
- cylindrical, dark red fleshy beet
- sunny to partially shaded location
- loose to medium-heavy, nutrient-rich soil
- Direct sowing from mid-April to July
from S to Z
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
Lettuce (Lactuca sativavar. crispa)
- annual daisy family (Asteraceae)
- this attracts earthworms
- sunny to partially shaded place
- fresh, humus-rich and loose soil
- Sow lettuce from March to July
- Lettuce from April to August
- Lamb's lettuce from late July to mid-September
Salsify (Scorzonera hispanica)
- perennial, hardy daisy family (Asteraceae)
- usually cultivated as an annual
- 30 to 70 cm long taproot
- black, milky and white flesh inside
- sunny to partially shaded location
- sandy-humic, loose, deep soil
- Direct sowing at the end of February to mid-March
Celery (Apium graveolens)
- biennial umbellifer (Apiaceae)
- Growth height 50 to 100 cm
- different varieties: bulbs, sticks and cut celery
- sunny location
- nutrient- and humus-rich, slightly calcareous soil
- Preculture from March
- Plant outdoors from mid-May
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)
- annual goosefoot plant (Chenopodiaceae)
- Growth height 10 to 30 cm
- sunny to partially shaded location
- fresh, humus-rich soil
- Sow early varieties from March to mid-May
- late varieties from August to the end of November
- both direct seed
- Loosen the soil and keep it evenly moist
Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)
- annual nightshade (Solanaceae)
- Varieties from bushy to tall
- entire plant smells intense
- thereby expelling pests such as lice
- Full sun, warm, wind-protected location
- humic, very nutrient-rich soil
- Preculture at the end of February at 20 °C
- Put young plants outdoors from mid-May
- Direct sowing is also possible from mid-May
Chicory / Chicory (Cichorium intybus)
- perennial, herbaceous daisy family (Asteraceae)
- Growth height 30 to 100 cm
- blue flowers from July to September
- sunny location
- slightly loamy, dry soil
- no fertilization necessary
- Using fresh leaves as a vegetable and in salads
- Flowers to garnish dishes
Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo var. giromontiina)
- annual gourd (Cucurbitaceae)
- sunny to partially shaded, warm place
- fresh, humic, nutrient-rich soil
- Preculture from mid-April at 18 to 20 °C
- Plant young plants outdoors after the ice saints
- Direct sowing is also possible from mid-May
Bad neighbors for onions
In addition to good planting neighbors, there are also those that don't harmonize with onions at all. These are mostly medium to heavy consumers. These remove many nutrients from the soil. He's literally drained. As a result, onions can no longer be supplied with sufficient nutrients. Such bad neighbors are among others
- Artichokes (Cynara)
- Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)
- Peas (Pisum sativum)
- Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)
- Cabbage (Brassica), mainly red, white and savoy cabbage
- Leek (Allium porrum)
- Radish (Raphanus sativus var. sativus)
- Radishes (Raphanus sativus)
Such plant neighbors for the onion should be avoided.
Garden bed with onions and lettuce
Notice: Onions are healthy. The contained vitamins B and C, as well as potassium, calcium and zinc strengthen the bones and teeth. In addition, the water balance of the body is regulated and the ingredients have a positive effect on blood sugar metabolism.
frequently asked Questions
Do onions have to be additionally fertilized during cultivation?The leek family belongs to the weak to medium eaters. Before cultivation, three liters of mature compost per square meter should be worked flat into the soil. As a rule, this fertilization in the spring is sufficient. If too much fertilizer is given in the form of nitrogen, the bulbs tend to become too fat and cannot be stored well.
When and how should onions be sown correctly?March 21 of each year is recommended here. The seed germinates at temperatures as low as 5 °C. It is sown 2 to
2.5 cm deep, with a row spacing of 20 cm. When the leaves of the seedlings are 10 cm long, they are singled to 5-10 cm. Winter onions with a harvest time in the following May are sown in the second half of August.
The bulbs are planted in the spring when there are no more late frosts. Winter onions can be planted in the ground until early October. The onions are planted individually at a distance of 10 cm with a row spacing of
20 cm plugged. They get so deep into the ground that the tip is still sticking out.