Onion
Allium cepa
Family: Amaryllidaceae · Genus: Allium
Onions are bulb vegetables in the amaryllis family, one of the most widely cultivated crops worldwide. Available in brown, white, and red varieties with varying flavours from pungent to mild. Native to Central Asia.
Soil Temperature
8°C – 30°C
Spacing
5 – 10 cm
Harvest
25–34 weeks
Sowing
Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks.
Growing Schedule Zone 8b
Companions
Avoid Growing Near
Growing Notes
Onions come in a range of colours and shapes and sizes. Brown - strong flavour and pungent. Usually good keepers for storage. White - milder but still flavoursome. Keep fairly well. Red - Mild, suitable to use raw in salads and sandwiches. The seedlings should be allowed to gain a bit of strength before planting out - usually 4 to 6 weeks will be enough. When they are big enough to handle, you can plant out. They start off looking like blades of grass. Onion bulbs should sit on the surface of the soil. Do not cover. They will take six to eight months to mature. Onions are ready when the tops start to dry and fall over.
Culinary Hints
Brown onions roasted whole with other vegetables are delicious. Red onions add colour to salads or stir-fry.