Growing Organic Onions: How to Get the Most Out of these Sturdy Onions

Growing organic onions is fairly easy.  You can have lots of varieties to choose from and these spicy vegetables could tolerate any climactic conditions.  You can have a year round supply of onions if you can correctly take care of it. 

You can choose three popular and commonly planted varieties of onion.  The sweet varieties include the White Spanish and Yellow Spanish types which are good for salads, burgers, pizzas, or you can munch on them as appetizers.  On the other hand, if you want sturdy onion types and you plan to store it for longer periods you can opt to plant the globe type pungent onion varieties.

Onions needs sufficient underground aeration in order to grow and achieve optimum size.  Well-drained soil with relatively loose structures would be their best habitat.  Onion growth could be stunted if planted on compacted soil like clay or loam.  However, these types of soil can be cultivated by incorporating organic materials such as mulch, dried wood, rotten leaves, and other compost.  Clay structure would loosen and onions will be able to grow unhindered.

Onions also have the ability to tolerate frost.  This plant is one of those sturdy species that can grow under extreme winter conditions.  Onions are at their best during cold weather.  They germinate fast and produce young bulbs if situated in cool environments. Once bulbs sprung up, regular application of fertilizer and watering the soils around it is a must.  This will support the young bulbs and will allow the plant to absorb water that it needs.

It should be noted that onions have limited roots that attach deeply into the soil.  It is imperative therefore that the garden bed or plot where onions are planted should have enough minerals and nutrients to support the plant.  Aside from regular applications of fertilizers, the soil around the onion plant should be constantly aerated to boost the growth of budding onion bulbs.

When you notice that the onion tops have fallen, it would be the best time to harvest the mature fruit.  Some harvest onions by pulling on the dried tops while others dig the onions to prevent any damages.  The fruit should be air-dried for at least two days before transferring it for curing and storage.