Onions

Onions

Plant Type: Edible Annuals, Plants to Taste

Latin Name: Allium cepa

Family: Liliaceae, Lily Family

© 2014 Shelley S. Cramm Fresh onion harvest

© 2013 Shelley S. Cramm Onions growing in a Quebec garden

We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic.

Numbers 11:5

Find onions along with other Alliums in the NIV God’s Word for Gardeners Bible near Numbers 11:5 & as part of the Garden Work theme of Cultivating, page a-27 & a-28

© 2014 Shelley S. Cramm Fine onion seedlings will grow hearty and robust with flavor

Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered.

John 6:43

Cultural Information

Type	Edible Annual
Height	12 - 24 inches
Soil	variety of soils, provide humus and good drainage
Exposure	full sun
Leaves	medium green, long, monocot, tubular, outer leaves begin folding over by mid-season
Flowers	single flower, tear-shaped, opens up to sphere made up of a multitude of petite blossoms

Planting Tips

prepare soil with plenty of compost for light, friable texture
sow seeds in rows and thin seedlings to every 4 inches
sprinkle the cut seedlings on salads or side dishes or garnish a plate - they are very flavorful!
select Long Day onions if you live in the north, where summer daylight is longer
select Short Day onions if you live in the south - even though your hot days feel long, the sun exposure is actually shorter and these cultivars are bred to develop bulbs with less light
fertilize your onions throughout their growth to ensure good bulb growth
cut a few leaves at any time - these are "green onions"; just be sure to leave at least 3-4 leaves on each onion plant
harvest once the leaves begin to dry out and flop over - this will vary by climate, early to late summer
to harvest, gently loosen soil and pull the whole plant from the ground
keep moisture off of stored onions - best to hang them for a week by their drying leaves with good air circulationor more to

Garden to Table

onions have many varieties so enjoy trying sweet, white, yellow or purple to find your favorite
be ready for a few tears when chopping onions - they are worth the flavor but wash hands thoroughly after prepping
there is hardly a cooked dish that won't taste better with onion flavor!
if you can part with some of the leaves, add them to bouquets for a spikey, vertical element - though remember that they have a strong aroma
tie leaves in lose knots around napkins to tease the table with dinner's savory scent