The vegetable onion is one of the oldest cultivated plants. People have been growing the spicy tuber for more than 5,000 years. Countless varieties have evolved over time. Autumn sowings of onions are called winter onions.
Winter onions grow during the cold season
plant winter onions
Some onion varieties are adapted to a winter culture. They require less light than their relatives and are unproblematic in the face of frost. Temperatures down to minus ten degrees are no problem for a winter onion. If the thermometer falls below this limit, the winter vegetables will be grateful for a cover with fleece or twigs. In the case of prolonged drought, watering is also useful during the cold season.
Attractive varieties:
- Senshyu Yellow: yellow winter onion
- Silvermoon: white variety with a mild taste
- Electric: red color and intense spiciness
Sit in the garden
After harvesting your summer onions, plant winter onion sets directly in the bed, then you can enjoy the next yields in spring. The bulbs should be in the ground by the beginning of October at the latest so that they can grow until winter.
Things to know about the harvest
The foliage provides a source of vitamins after sprouting in spring. So that the onion can continue to ripen, you should not harvest too many leaves. The actual harvest time for the tubers begins in May, with the exact time of harvest depending on various factors. If onion sets were planted, they will ripen earlier than sown seeds. Sowings made in August will be harvested from late June to July.
Identify ripe onions
The plant draws its energy from the leaves and stores it in the roots, causing the foliage to slowly turn yellow. The onion bulbs are ready to harvest once the leaves are fully yellow and twisted.
harvest tips
Pull the mature bulbs out of the ground by the yellowed foliage and remove the leaves. This step prevents undesirable rot formation. You can leave the harvest loosely spread out on the bed in the sun to dry. In rainy weather, it is advisable to keep the onions in a warm room to dry.
tips
The skin of onions dries out quickly from excessive exposure to the sun. They should not be exposed to temperatures above 30 degrees.