onions

[brierpatch1974]

How do you grow onions? I mean to get really big onion heads/roots the white part lol. I am not sure what you call it. I always get very good greens btu the white part never gets bigger thana golf ball. Thanks for the help.

[Marcia in MT]

Since bulbing is day length dependent, plant the right type for your latitude: long day types for the north, and short day ones for the south. Intermediate types can go just about anywhere.

Onions also like good garden soil, moderate watering, and NO competition from weeds. They have shallow roots. Mulch is a good idea.

When you plant seedlings or sets, don't plant them too deeply -- especially if you have any kind of clay soil. Bigger bulbs form when a third or so of the bulb is above ground.

Best of luck!

[Patches]

My mother always told me to uncover the bulb as it grows, and she always grows huge onions. I started uncovering mine and they get really big.

[Paquebot]

Also plant as early as possible. Since maturity depends upon the length of daylight, the plant will stop growing on a certain date regardless of what size the bulb is.

Martin

[VOR.]

I've always heard (and observed) that the bulb size is dependent on the top size. Each top corresponds to a layer in the onion. I've never heard of anyone getting big tops with small bulbs. I would guess they need more phosphorous.

I just leave them in ground for another year if they aren't big enough.