No pantry is complete without onions. A staple in most cultures, most
meals are incomplete without them.We have many varieties suited for different
purposes and growing regions.
Onion
growing falls into 3 categories: Intermediate
day-length onions can be grown just about anywhere with a daylight
requirement of 12-14hrs. Short
day-length onions do better in the Southern states and require 10-12hrs of
daylight. Long day-length onions
require 14-16hrs of daylight to bulb well and thrive in the Northern states.
The
dividing line for the long and short day-length varieties is a horizontal line
drawn between Kansas and Oklahoma. As a general rule, plant long day-length
varieties above the line and short day-length varieties below the line.
Plant
onion seed shallowly in prepared drills and loosely cover with soil. A hessian/burlap
cloth over the planting bed will assist in germination and moisture retention.
Thin out to 4 - 6"(10-15cm) apart when seedlings are pencil thick and
either replant the thinnings or use in salads.