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

20 Feb 17, michael kearns (Australia - temperate climate)
Which type of onion is better. brown or yellow
20 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
They are both good depending on what your intended use is. Brown onions are often smaller and more pungent but Creamgold (Pukekoe), the creamy yellow one is larger with a smoother flavour. I suppose you could say Creamgold is the ideal BBQ onion as it onlly needs light frying. It is entirely a matter of personal preference. Trust this helps.
01 Feb 17, Grace (Australia - temperate climate)
I'm looking at onions. Temperate area. Cohuna vic. What isnthe difference between the "transplant seedlings" and "plant in garden"? Hmmm. Or does the "plant in garden" mean I can plant seed straight into the garden instead of growing them now in seed trays?
04 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Any seeds planted directly into the garden will do better than transplants because they don't get any transplant shock. Having said that it is not easy to sow onion seed far enough apart to achieve this without thinning. Seed sown directly into the ground in friable soil will do a lot better than tray grown seedlings generally because moisture is easier to keep more consistent. these can then be transplanted. Trust this helps and is not too confusing.
29 Jan 17, Anthony (Australia - temperate climate)
I am keen on growing brown onions at home in Sydney..i have been reading up on onions and found that there are long day short day and intermediate day varieties...which verity best suits Sydney this winter and even next summer...Also whats the best variety of onion that best suits Sydney....Im near Parramatta... Also where would the best place to get seeds for this variety of onion... Thankyou....
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.
Showing 221 - 230 of 368 comments

Onions are immortal and can be re-planted after harvest. When cutting for food, chop <1.5 cm from the roots for re-planting. Water well and the onion will bulb into a few new plants. Separate the bulbs and you will have a new batch of onions.

- Jase

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