Yard and Garden: Growing Onions


January 23, 2014, 7:32 am | Richard Jauron, Willy Klein

Onion PlantAMES, Iowa—Onions, one of the most productive of garden vegetables, is a cool-season crop that takes more than 95 days to mature. Planting should be done as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring. If grown from seed, onions should be started indoors well in advance of outdoor planting. Horticulturists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach answer questions about growing onions. 

What is meant by the terms long-day and short-day onion? 

Onion bulb formation begins when a certain day length is reached. Short-day onion varieties (cultivars) begin to form bulbs when they receive 10 to 12 hours of daylight, intermediate-day onions need 12 to 14 hours of daylight, and long-day cultivars require 14 or more hours of daylight.  

Bulb size is largely determined by the number and size of the leaves at bulb initiation. The larger the tops (foliage area) at bulb initiation, the larger the size of the mature bulbs. (The size of onion bulbs also depends on weather, soil conditions and other factors.)  

Long-day onion cultivars are the best choice for gardeners in Iowa and other states in the upper midwest. Short-day cultivars generally produce small bulbs when grown in northern areas because of the small amount of foliage present at bulb initiation. Long-day cultivars, however, are able to produce large tops before bulb initiation occurs. As a result, long-day onion cultivars typically produce the biggest bulbs. 

What are some good onion varieties for Iowa? 

Suggested onion varieties (cultivars) for home gardens in Iowa include:

  • ‘Candy’ – yellow-brown skin, globe-shaped, short-term storage
  • ‘Copra’ – main season, yellow-brown skin, excellent storage
  • ‘Red Burgermaster’ – bright red, globe-shaped, good storage
  • ‘Red Zeppelin’ – deep red, globe-shaped, excellent storage
  • ‘Stuttgarter’ – flattened globes, light brown skin, excellent storage, from sets
  • ‘Walla Walla Sweet’ – late season, yellow-brown skin, short-term storage
  • ‘White Sweet Spanish’ – late season, white skin, short term shortage

I would like to start some onion plants indoors. When should I sow the seeds? 

Using a well-drained growing medium, sow onion seeds in flats approximately eight to 10 weeks before you intend to plant them outdoors. As soon as the seeds germinate, place the onion seedlings under artificial lighting. An ordinary fluorescent shop fixture, containing one 40 watt cool white and one 40 watt warm white tube, works fine. The light fixture should be placed no more than 4 to 6 inches above the seedlings. Growing temperatures should be 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Insufficient light and temperatures above 65 F promote spindly growth.

Thin the onion seedlings (within two to three weeks of germination) if the plants are crowded. Harden or acclimate the onion seedlings outdoors for seven to 10 days before planting into the garden. Initially, place the plants in a shady, protected location. Then gradually expose the plants to longer periods of sunlight. Bring the seedlings back indoors if nighttime temperatures are forecast to drop to 32 F or below.

It’s usually safe to begin planting onion seedlings outdoors in early to mid-April in central Iowa.

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