Planting Onions

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Planting Onions

ONION (A Ilium cepa). The onion has been grownsince remote antiquity and its culture and use arenoted in our earliest records. It probablyoriginated in middle Asia. The Onion belongs tothe Lily Family with such other closely relatedplants as Garlic, Leek, chives, shallots and welshonions. It is generally a biennial or long-seasonannual although some forms such as the 'Multi-pliers' are perennial.

The Onion is one of the most importantvegetable crops, grown for consumption in thegreen and mature bulb state, in all sections ofthe U.S. The more important commercialproduction areas are in Tex., Calif., N.Y.,Mich., Colo., Ore., Idaho, N.J., Wisc., N.Mex.,and Minn.

Varieties

There are many varieties listed in seedcatalogues, a number of which are F, hybridsdeveloped for specific cultural conditions. Ingeneral, there are 2 types of onions grown fordry bulbs, the American or pungent and the"foreign" or mild types. Each contain varietiesthat are yellow, red and white and vary in shapefrom flat, globular to elongated bottle. Withsuch a wide variation only a few of the moreimportant sorts in each category can be listed.

In the American types 'Southport YellowGlobe', 'Yellow Globe Danvers', 'Early YellowGlobe' and 'Ebenezer' which is grown from setsare yellow varieties. 'Red Wethersfield' and`Southport Red Globe' and 'Southport WhiteGlobe' represent red and white sorts. 'WhitePortugal' is good for pickling. In "foreign"types, 'White Bermuda' and 'Yellow Bermuda',`Early Grano' and the many strains of 'SweetSpanish' are most important. Varieties that aregrown for green onions (scallions) include`Japanese Bunching', 'Beltsville Bunching',`Multipliers' and 'Perennial Tree'.

It is recommended that several reliable seedcatalogues be checked for detailed varietycharacteristics and adaptability.

Soils and Soil Preparation

While onions can be grown on all types ofsoil the sandy or silt loarns and muck soils,where available, are preferred. For onions, it isimportant to prepare a well-pulverized seedbedthat has been smoothed with a rake or drag. Thisis especially true if the crop is to be grown fromseed.

Fertilization

A soil pH of 5.8-6.5 is optimum. Loweracidity retards growth. See LIMING. The use ofwell-rotted manure is advisable, 3o-4o bu. per moo sq. ft. Fresh manure usually contains weedseeds and may cause a problem in weed controland, therefore, if rotted manure is not availablea good compost is preferred. In addition tomanure apply 3o-4o lbs. of a 5-8-7 or 5-to-5commercial fertilizer per woo sq. ft. Incorporatethoroughly into the soil. After the plants arewell established a side dressing of nitrate ofsoda, 3-4 lbs. per too° sq. ft., is a good practiceand yields good results.

Planting Methods

There are 3 methods commonly used inplanting onions; by seed, sets and seedlingplants. Direct seeding requires a fine seedbedand good moisture conditions. The seed re-quires from 8-12 days for germination afterwhich some to days to 2 weeks are necessary forthe seedlings to become well established. Oneoz. of seed is needed for too ft. of row and therows are spaced 12-15 in. apart.

Seedling plants purchased from reliabledealers or seedsmen are inexpensive and easy tohandle. The plants should be stocky with bulbsthe size of peas and have bushy roots. Plantingdistance 3-4 in. in the row and 12-15 in. betweenrows. Onion sets, immature bulblets, are usedextensively for green onions in the spring andalso for mature onions because of their ease ofplanting. Furrows are opened, the sets placed3-4 in. apart and then covered with t in. of soil.Planting dates for seed and sets, as early aspossible, but delay with seedlings until dangerof severe frost is past.

Cultivation

Onions require continuous shallow cultiva-tion to control weeds and to maintain a soilmulch. A scuffle hoe does a good job. Manycommercial growers use a selective herbicide,Chloro-IPC, for' onions. Again, this is notrecommended in the home garden.

Harvesting

When the bulbs have reached mature size andthe tops break over, the plants are pulled andplaced in rows to dry for 3-6 days. The top isthen cut off about t in. above the bulb and thebulb is then again spread out for drying forseveral days before placing into storage. Usecrates or netted sacks and a storage that is cool,well ventilated and dry.

Insects and Diseases

Onion maggot is the larva of a small fly. Themaggots, in. long, kill the young plants andburrow into the bulb. Starting in early May,apply 3 applications at 7-day intervals ofDiazinon, 2 level tablespoons per gal. of water.See CABBAGE. Onion thrips are small, yellowish,sucking insects which attack the leaves. Dustscontaining malathion or Diazinon applied at7-io-day intervals give satisfactory control.Onion smut, a fungus living over in the soil,attacks the small seedling plants. Avoid soilwhere disease has occurred. Apply a for-maldehyde solution, t teaspoon to t qt. ofwater, in seed furrow at rate of 3 qts. per to ft.of row. Downy mildew, a fungus diseasecommon during cool wet weather, causes theleaves to turn yellow and die. Dusting at weeklyintervals with copper-lime or using a spray ofzineb or Bordeaux mixture gives satisfactorycontrol. Pink root and neck rot are other diseasesthat may cause damage but which have nospecific control.

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