New York is known for its thriving husbandry , and Allium cepa farming is no exception . Growing onion in the Empire State command thrifty thoughtfulness of the unequaled growing conditions in the region . Selecting the proper fourth dimension to plant is essential to achieving maximum yield and quality of the crop . However , planting onions at the wrong clock time can lead to a host of challenges and setbacks , such as hapless increment and disease susceptibility .
Good Onion Varieties to Grow in New York
Onions are a popular vegetable crop among gardeners due to their versatility in the kitchen and the rest with which they can be grown . There are numerous varieties of onion , each with its unique characteristics and US .
Here are some of the more democratic onion smorgasbord that gardeners like to grow :
Overall , each onion variety has its alone flavor visibility and culinary uses , making them a democratic and versatile crop for gardeners .
When to Plant Onions in New York
Onions are a cool - time of year crop that can be establish in the bound as soon as the soil can be worked . The exact planting time will diverge depending on your location and clime , but generally , onions should be found about 2 - 4 week before the last carry frost date in your surface area . The Allium cepa planting date in New York are :
Additional Resource : Find Your New York Hardiness Zone
Before planting onions , it ’s essential to prepare the soil by loosening it to a depth of 4 - 6 inches and incorporating compost or well - rotted manure . Onions favour well - drain territory with a pH between 6.0 - 7.0 .
To embed onion Set , which are small onion lightbulb , make a furrow about 1 inch deep , plant the sets 4 - 6 column inch apart , and overcompensate them with grunge . For Allium cepa seeds , sow them about 1/4 inch deep and 1 in apart , and cover them with grime . Water the stain thoroughly after planting , and keep the soil moist until the seedling come out .
onion plant spring up advantageously in full sun and take consistent wet to produce quality light bulb . They also benefit from unconstipated fecundation throughout the growing season . Weed control is of the essence , so keep the area around the plants free of weeds .
In last , Allium cepa should be plant in the leap , 2 - 4 weeks before the last expect frost date in your area . cook the soil , plant the set or seeded player , water the well , and keep the area free of weeds . With proper care , you could enjoy a bountiful harvest of delicious Allium cepa in the summer and declension .
Planting Onions From Seed
Onions can be grown from germ , but it takes longer than planting onion set or starts . It ’s recommended to plant onion plant protrude rather than seed because onion plant seeds take a longer clock time to germinate and grow , and the plants may not mature as uniformly as onion sets .
However , planting Allium cepa from seed can be a good alternative if you require to grow a specific variety that is n’t available as sets or starts . Planting onion plant seeds can also be more cost - effective than purchasing sets or showtime .
If you decide to plant onions from seeded player , you should start the seed indoors 8 - 10 weeks before the last expected frost date in your area . If you decide to found onions from seeded player , you should start the seeds indoors 8 - 10 week before the last expect hoarfrost escort in your area . The final hoarfrost date in New York are :
In New York , startle your Allium cepa seed indoors around :
To bulge out onion plant seed indoors , take seed trays with a good quality seed - starting mix , and sprinkle the seeds on top of the dirt . Cover the ejaculate with a thin level of soil , irrigate the tray , and keep it in a warm , bright position . Onion seeds need a consistent temperature of 65 - 75 ° F to germinate , so you may need to use a oestrus mat or grow light to maintain the good condition .
After the germ have germinated , thin the seedlings to about 1 in apart , and continue to turn them indoors until they are big enough to transplant outside . Harden off the seedlings by bit by bit reveal them to outside conditions for a week before transplanting them into the garden .
When to Harvest Onions in New York
Onions are ready to reap when the farewell commence to turn chickenhearted and come down over . This typically happens in late summer or early fall , about 100 - 120 days after planting , depending on the miscellanea and growing conditions .
To see if the onion are ready for harvest , gently bear on back the land around the base of the onion lightbulb to see if they have developed into mature lightbulb . If the bulbs are of the want size , you could set forth to reap them .
To harvest onions , apply a garden fork or shovel to cautiously overturn the bulbs out of the soil . Gently loosen the soil around the bulbs to keep off damaging them . Once the bulbs are out of the soil , leave them on the priming coat for a day or two to dry out and cure in the sun . This will aid to toughen the skins and extend the storage life of the onions .
After the onions have dried and cure for a solar day or two , cut off the stems and stem to about 1 inch from the bulb . you’re able to then store the Allium cepa in a cool , dry position , such as a service department or basement , with good air circulation . advert them in mesh bags or tying them in braids is also a estimable way to store onion plant .
Onions should be stored in a place with a temperature between 32 - 40 ° F and with low-spirited humidness . forefend storing onions near potatoes or other fruits and vegetables that bring forth ethylene flatulence , which can stimulate onion to spoil more quickly .
