Growing Onion

Allium cepa : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
  S         S          
      T T T     T      
        P P            

(Best months for growing Onion in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 46°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 2 - 4 inches apart
  • Harvest in 25-34 weeks. Allow onions to dry before storing.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Lemon Balm, Borage, Carrots, Beets, Silverbeet, Lettuce, Amaranth
  • Avoid growing close to: Peas, Beans

Your comments and tips

04 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
We are south of Sydney but I think it would be about the same. Check the seed packets or catalogue when purchasing. Feb-Mar - Early White Barletta, Erly Flat White (salad onion) Apr-May - Golden Globe, Hunter River White, Hunter River Brown, Gladalan Brown Apr-Jul - Odourless, Calred (Californian Red), Pearl Pickler May-Jul - White Spanish, Australian Brown, Brown Spanish Jun-Jul - Pukekohe (Creamgold) Jul-Sep - Ailsa Craig, White Spanish, All Year - White Lisbon, Long White Bunching (spring onion) I am indebted to Norman de Vaus for this information. He has a seed company called New Gippsland Seed Farm which you should be able to find on the internet. Trust this helps.
04 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
We are further south than Sydney but the following list should be a good guide for you. Also check the packet or seed catalogue for what is right for Sydney when purchasing. Feb-Mar - Early Flat White (salad onion), Early Barletta Apr-May - Golden Globe, Hunter River White, Hunter River Brown, Gladalan Brown Apr-Jul - Odourless, Calred (Californian Red) May-Jul - White Spanish, Australian Brown (Brown Spanish) Jun-Jul - Pukekohe (Creamgold) Jul-Sep - Ailsa Craig, Prizetaker, White Spanish All Year - Long White Bunching - Spring onions (thin like a pencil) These are seed sowing t
15 Jan 17, PAUL DZIADULEWICZ (Australia - temperate climate)
BROWN ONIONS GROWN IN OUR VEG PATCH HAVE NO TASTE AT ALL. THEY LOOK GREAT, ARE A GOOD SIZE AND APPEAR TO BE HEALTHY CAN YOU OFFER ANY SUGGESTIONS? CHEERS PAUL
16 Jan 17, John Mauger (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello Paul. There could be a number of reasons for your problem. 1. Are the onions ripe? When onions are ready for harvest the tops will have died off and will be lying flat on the ground. 2. Were they 'salad' or 'long keeping' onions? Salad onions are flat and very mild flavoured. What was the variety and its description? Brown or White Spanish onions are much hotter than mild varieties such as' Creamgold' or' Pukekohe'. This may not solve the problem for your current crop but trust it will give you some answers for the next one.
07 Jan 17, john timea (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Hello my name is john timea .I am from Papua new guinea highlands and iam interested in growing blub brown onion.please advise what variety will I grow.thank you. john timea.
09 Jan 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
It would take a lot of time to cover onion grwing in New Guinea. I suggest you Google 'onion growing in New Guinea as there is some quite good articles. Bulb onions grow well in the lowland areas but fungal problems are a consideratio everywhere. These articles may give you some clues as to what varieties to grow. Trust this helps.
02 Jan 17, Bob (Australia - temperate climate)
I'm in Sydney NSW, and I think I'm in the temperate zone. is that correct Cheers
03 Jan 17, John Mauger (Australia - temperate climate)
Sydney would be temperate but you can grow a lot of subtropical things there as well. A lot of Sydney does not get frosts.
10 Dec 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)
I would like to grow some red onions I can not find seeds but I brought some bulbs from the local green grocer now do I plant the bulb in the garden or do I keep them in the cupboard or fridge till they spout I live in Tasmania
10 Dec 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Onions are biennial; that is, they grow and die down the first year then sprout again and flower in the second year. I would plant the bulbs as they will grow and flower this season giving you an abundance of seed. There is a seed company called The Lost Seed in Tasmania and there was another called Phoenix Seeds, if you googled them I am fairly sure one of them would have red onion seed. Trust this helps.
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