You can easily grow onions in your garden. They don’t take up much space. But how many onions grow from one bulb? The answer is simple: i.e., only one onion will grow from one bulb.
The size of the harvested onion will vary depending on the variety and growing conditions.
Adding onion to your daily diet can help to boost your immune system and improve heart health. It has loads of antioxidants, which help to control your blood sugar level.
Onion requires abundant sunlight and well-drained soil for proper growth. You can grow onions in almost any open space or a container.
You can grow onion mainly in two ways, i.e., bulb and seed. Growing from the bulb is quite an simple process. You need to plant them indoors before the last frost. Again, you can harvest earlier when you grow onions from bulbs.
How Many Onions Grow From One Bulb?
Most gardeners get confused while growing onions in their garden. You can grow them with seeds, sets, or bulbs. Additionally, onions can grow in some areas only during springtime.
But there are specific areas where onions can grow in spring and fall. Well, I will clear up all the confusion today.
Onion sets are onion seeds that sprout and grow as small onions. They undergo a dormant period for a few months.
When you plant them in the soil, their life returns, and they start growing again. One of the most significant advantages of onion sets or bulbs is that they get ready for harvest quickly compared to seeds. You can plant onion sets in late March or April when the temperature will no longer go below 28 degrees Fahrenheit.
Let’s discuss how you can grow onions from immature bulbs or sets.
1. Purchase Onion Sets
You can onion sets or bulbs from the nursery. There are also various sites available where you can purchase onion sets online.
You will find various varieties of onion sets, i.e. red, white, and yellow. You can purchase according to your preferences. But remember, all the onion sets will grow in a similar way in the soil.
Always choose small or compact bulbs for growing onions. You may find large bulbs and think they will grow large onions. But in reality, they are very close to the matured stage, so they are hard to grow in soil.
2. Select Location
Choose a sunny location where onion sets or bulbs can grow properly. Additionally, it will require moist and well-drained fertile soil for proper growth.
3. Plant Onion Sets
Now, start planting onion sets in your garden. Keep the basal downside and pointed end up side on the soil.
You must plant the onion set bulbs 1.5 inches deep inside the soil. Try to keep a distance of ¾ inches while planting onion bulbs.
Regular watering is good for the growth of onion. You need to install drip irrigation system for uniform watering of the onion.
But over watering can harm your onion bulb. You need to provide at least one inch of water per week for the proper growth of onions. Cover the immature bulbs with lighter mulch. It will retain moisture and suppress weeds.
4. Harvest The Onion
Birds usually tend to pull the onion from the ground. So you can prevent it by covering the onion bulbs with cloche.
You can harvest onions at any stage. But it’s good to harvest when the stems mature, turn brown, and finally fall over.
5. Storage Of Onions
You need to dry the onions for at least two weeks if you want to store them for many months. Try to store onions in a well-ventilated and cool, dry location.
How To Grow Onions From Seeds?
Growing onion from seeds has various advantages, such as having options for multiple varieties. Seeds are also available at cheap rates.
Onion seeds even produce more onions per square foot compared to onion bulbs. You need to start planting onion seeds on the soil tray at least six weeks before transplanting to the garden or any open space.
The temperature needs to be at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit during transplantation.
Now, let’s discuss the procedure of growing onions from seeds.
1. Prepare The Seeds
You need to soak onion seeds for at least 24 hours. You can then remove the seeds and keep them open for 3-4 days. You can then plant the seeds in the soil tray.
2. Sow The Seeds And Observe The Tray
The seeds will take approximately 6-8 weeks to sprout. So, in the meantime, you can prepare the space where you will grow the saplings. It can be a grow bag, garden, or pot on your balcony.
Remember the sapling will require sufficient sunlight to grow. The soil must be fertile and well-drained. It even needs fertilizers. Try to give organic fertilizers to the young saplings.
3. Monitor The Tray
You need to transplant the saplings into any open space when the seeds sprout. Try to place the transplant saplings within a gap of at least 15 cm. It ensures that the onion bulb will have sufficient space to grow.
4. Harvest
The onion will harvested within five months. Whenever you see an onion top from the soil, ensure it’s time to harvest. The leaves will also start shriveling.
Pull out the onion from the soil. Cut the leaves by leaving 3cm from the onion bulb. You can cook the leaves after leaving them in partial shade for drying.
Conclusion
Onions are healthy and versatile. Hence, you can use it in almost any cooking item, from soups to curries. You can easily grow them despite having less space in the garden.
how many onions grow from one bulb? It’s growing from onion seats or bulbs is an easier method. You can even harvest within a short span, which is quite exciting.
So plant onions in your garden and enjoy harvesting.
