How to Grow and Care for Onion Plant
Onion (Allium cepa L., from Latin Cepa “onion”), otherwise called the bulb onion or common onion, is a vegetable that is the extensively cultivated species of the family Allium. Its nearby family members incorporate the garlic, scallion, shallot, leek, chive, and Chinese onion. Onion, a herbaceous biennial plant in the Amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae), is cultivated for its edible bulb. The onion is likely local to southwestern Asia; however, it is currently cultivated all around the world, primarily in the temperate zones. Onions are low in nutrients; yet, they are looked up to for their flavor and are utilized broadly in cooking. They add flavor to many dishes like stews, meats, soups, and salads and are additionally served as a cooked vegetable.
Firstly, let’s talk about biennial plants.
The biennials in the nursery are blooming plants that have a two-year organic cycle. Biennial plant development starts with seeds that produce the root structure, stems, and leaves (just as food storage organs) during the first cultivating season. A short stem and a low basal rosette of leaves structure and stays through the winter months. During the second season, biennial plant development finishes with the formation of blossoms, fruits, and seeds. The stem of the biennial will lengthen or “bolt.” Following this second season, numerous biennials reseed, and afterward, the plant generally pass on—for instance, carrots, cabbage, lettuce, parsley, onions, etc.
Benefits of Onion
It is the basic information that slicing onions can cause watery eyes. Notwithstanding, onions might even have some medical advantages such as decreasing the risk of a few kinds of cancer, improving temperament, and keeping up skin and hair wellbeing.
Cancer Prevention
Scientists have analyzed allium vegetables greatly in association with cancer, particularly stomach and colorectal diseases. The scientists found that the danger of colorectal cancer growth was 79% lower in the individuals who routinely consumed allium vegetables, for example, onions. Specialists don’t completely comprehend the specific system by which a few mixes in onions restrain cancer. Some theorize that onions restrict tumor development and cell modification. One cup of sliced onions additionally gives at least 13.11% of a grown-up’s advised everyday intake of vitamin C. As an antioxidant, this vitamin helps counter the building of free radical compounds that have connections to cancer growth.
Skin and Hair
As a decent source of vitamin C, onions may help the growth and sustenance of collagen. Collagen gives structure to skin and hair.
Blood Pressure Moderation
A 2019 survey found that quercetin, a compound in onion skin, had connections to bring down blood pressure when the experimenters took it out and administered it as a supplement. Yet, the study didn’t evaluate the probable consequences on the blood pressure of eating onion as a part of the diet rather than taking quercetin in supplement form.
How to Grow Onion?
Onions are a cold-season crop, simple to cultivate as a result of their hardiness. By midsummer, you can start harvesting onions.
When to plant
Generally speaking, plant onion sets outside when the climate is cool—not cold. Ideally, outdoor temperatures shouldn’t plunge beneath 28°F (- 2°C) after planting.
In places with a chilly winter, plant onions when the ground can be worked in the spring—typically late March or April.
In milder areas, onions can be planted in the late fall or winter. They will sit dormant during the cool season, yet will be ready to grow when the more extended, milder days of spring show up.
In case of planting seeds, start growing them inside around a month and a half before you intend to relocate them to the garden. Onion seeds need temperatures of 50°F (10°C), in any event, to germinate appropriately.
Preparing the Planting Site
Select a place with full sun, where different plants won’t conceal your onions.
Soil should be very well-drained, loose, and rich in nitrogen; compacted, rocky, or clay-heavy soil influences bulb improvement.
Add aged fertilizer or manure to the soil in late winter, before planting. Onion plants are overwhelming feeders and need consistent sustenance to deliver huge bulbs. At planting time, mix in some nitrogen manure—practice crop rotation with onions. At the end of the day, don’t plant them in a similar area year after year, as this can empower the spread of illnesses that exploit the harvest.
How to Plant Onion
Since they develop a lot quicker (and are less work in general), we suggest developing onions from onion sets (i.e., little onion bulbs) instead of from seeds. Though, in mild areas with a long developing season, seeds are an alternative also.
Tip: Choose onion sets that are around ¾-inch in diameter and no greater. Bigger ones may create stiff necks and go to seed excessively fast.
In the case of planting from seed, remember that onion seeds are short-lived, so start with new seeds every year. Start seeds inside around a month and a half before relocating to the garden. When planting onion sets, plant them somewhere in the range of 2 and 6 inches separated and don’t bury them more than 1 inch under the soil. When planting transplants into the garden, keep the plants 4 to 5 inches apart in rows and 12 to 18 inches apart. Include straw mulch between rows of onions. This will help hold moisture and stifle weeds.
Food and water requirements
Onions are overwhelming feeders. Feed onions with rich manure, for example, fish emulsion, early in the season to grow enormous plants and bulbs. (You can even use natural manure, 5-10-10.) Second feeding is needed about a month after the primary feeding of side-dress rows with a band of matured fertilizer. Keep onions uniformly watered early in the season. They require permanent moisture during the bulb growth stage; dry conditions early will make bulbs split. Give each plant around 1 inch of water every week (about 1.6 gallons). Transfers require more water than sets. At midsummer–or about a month prior to reaping after bulbs have shaped and when the necks of the onions start to relax, cut back on food and water, and permit bulbs to develop in drier, less rich soil.
Onions are a very important ingredient of every household. Therefore, one should try to grow onions at home by following these simple steps.
Keep onion beds all around weeded. Onions are shallow-rooted. Cultivate frequently and shallowly. Pull weeds by hand near bulbs to keep away from up-turning plants. Utilize a sharp digger just to cut off weeds at the soil level. Since onions leaves are slim and strappy, they don’t hinder the sun from the soil, which, thus, permits weed germination. Onion beds require more weeding as compared to any other vegetable beds. After the soil has warmed, place a 1-to 2-inch layer of mulch around onions to debilitate weeds and moderate soil dampness. Utilize matured fertilizer or chopped leaves around onions. Hold the mulch once again from bulb tops once they begin to create. (To develop huge onions, keep both mulch and soil pulled over from the best 66% of creating bulbs.)
A new development from the middle will stop when bulbs begin framing. At the point when bulbs are ready, leaves will start to yellow and fall over. After around seventy-five percent of tops have fallen over, utilize the rear of a rake to twist around the staying tops evenly. The twisted leaves will make the plant occupy the remainder of its vitality to the bulbs and away from leafy development. After the tops turn brown in color in a day or two, lift the bulbs with a nursery fork on a sunny day, and leave them to dry in the sun. At the point when bulb’s external skins are dry, and the tops withered in about seven days, clear off any dirt, and remove the tops. On the off chance that the climate is moist, permit the onions to dry in a vaporous spot. You can loop the leaves through a framed chicken wire, the mesh of a fence, or braid them into a garland to dry.
Store them in a dry, cool place to avoid any sort of rotting. You can make bags or braids them and hang them. Depending on the variety of onions, cured onion bulbs can be stored for 1-12 months.
