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How to Grow and Care for Onion

Onion, also known as Bulb onion, Common onion, Garden onion, Edible Onion, Shallot

Onion is generally considered easy to grow. Key care requirements include full sun exposure and well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. Special care points for onion involve consistent watering, ensuring the soil remains moist but not waterlogged. It is crucial to thin seedlings to prevent overcrowding, which can lead to poor bulb development. Adequate spacing also helps in reducing the risk of disease.

Watering schedule: Every 1-2 weeks

Sunlight Requirements: Full sun

Toxic to Pets

In This Article

Planting and Growing Onion

Toughness	Medium
Care Level	Medium
Care Difficulty	Easy
Lifespan	Perennial, Annual, Biennial
Watering Schedule	Every 1-2 weeks
Sunlight Requirements	Full sun
Soil Type	Garden Soil
Soil pH	6-7
Planting Time	Mid spring, Early spring, Late winter, Late summer, Early fall, Mid fall
Hardiness Zones	4-11
Toxicity	Toxic to Pets

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Varieties of Onion

Onion 'Sturon'

Onion 'Sturon' is a high-yielding and reliable cultivar with a sweet flavor perfect for raw consumption or cooking. Its long storage life and resistance to bolting make it an excellent choice for home gardeners and commercial growers alike.

Onion 'Red Baron'

Onion 'Red Baron' is named for its firm, extra-large round bulbs with shiny dark red skin. The flesh is red-white and attractive. It has a stronger onion flavor than most other red onions, and it is ideal to use raw in salads or in cooked dishes. Onion 'Red Baron' is one of the best storing onions, lasting well into winter.

Onion 'Centurion'

Onion 'Centurion' is a bulbous perennial vegetable that is grown as a crop rather than as a display plant. This hybrid was developed from Allium cepa 'Sturon' and is distinctive because its shape resembles a slightly depressed globe. This garden onion produces a rich crop of bulbs with a pale golden color.

Onion 'Redspark'

The onion 'Redspark' is recommended by the Royal Horticultural Society for its resistance to mildew and its uniform appearance. This garden onion cultivar was named for its rich, dark red skin and its depth of purple color inside. It produces medium-sized onions.

Onion 'Yellow Moon'

A small, round form and a pale yellow color are the hallmarks of theonion 'Yellow Moon'. This shallot tastes milder than onions. They are easy to care for, and by late summer, the gardener will find each plant produces 6 to 8 shallots.

Common Pests & Diseases

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The Toxicity of Onion

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More General Info About Onion

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Onion exhibits a distinctive morphology with its cream-colored, somewhat flattened oval bulbs measuring approximately 2-3 inches (5-7.5 cm) in length and 3-4 inches (7.5-10 cm) in width. The outer skin presents a subtle hue of red, purple, or brown. The plant sprouts multiple offsets during the growth phase, suggestive of underground bulb division. Above ground, the elongated, chive-like green tops may be used culinarily, although their removal may inhibit bulb development. Deer and rabbit resistance is a notable characteristic of this plant.