Allium cepa
Days to matureness are calculated from particular date of verbatim seeding . Culture• Onions are photoperiodic plants — they order their stage of growth by day length• Onions will make top growing until the critical light continuance is reached , then bulbing begins• The amount of growth and developing prior to bulbing will ascertain the bulb size• Long - day varieties do well in northerly states where summertime day distance is between 14 - 16 hours• Short - day varieties do well in southerly states and bulb when day distance is 10 - 12 hour ; they wo n’t get very declamatory in northerly states• Dividing line between short - day and recollective - day variety is generally accepted as 36 ° latitude , roughly along the Kansas / Oklahoma border• Day - indifferent and intermediate - day varieties take off bulbing when day length is 12 - 14 60 minutes ; can be successfully grown anywhere• Onions prefer Christ Within , sandy , loamy soils• enforce 1/4 - 1/2 cup of TSC ’s all over fertilizer per 5 row feet , 1 - 2 inches below transplant or seedDirect Sowing• Thin to the strongest works when 4 - 5 inchesTransplanting• Sow up to 10 - 12 seeds in a 4 - 6 inch pot• If top hit over 5 inch before transplant , cut to 3 inches• When planting out cautiously separate the seedlings and place in a shallow trench• Fill deep around seedlings and water in well• Tips for overwintering : Sow seed at the beginning of August . Once they are turgid enough , around mid - October , transplant into the garden . you’re able to glean green onion until April . In May they will begin to bulb and will be ready to harvest as dried down electric light by mid to previous - June . Insects & Diseases• Common insects : Allium cepa thrips and maggots• Insect control : Pyrethrin or Predatory Nematodes• Common disease : Fusarium basal rot , pink root• Disease prevention : 5 - 7 twelvemonth crop rotationHarvest & Storage• For scallions : harvest when pencil sizing or larger , wash and trim roots , shop in a bag at 36 ° fluorine and 95 % relative humidity• As medulla approach adulthood , withhold water so protective composition can form• After about half the top have fallen , push over the remainder ; wait about 1 week then harvest• Cure in a warm ( 75 - 80 ° F ) , shade , well - air out location until outer skin and cervix are dry , then shave crown , leave one inch above the bulb• Store in a cool , dry , well - ventilated area• Check from time to time and immediately take away any germination or rotting onionsWhat is pelleted seed?Seed that has been surface with a clay - base cloth to form a larger , round physique . This makes planting by hired man or mechanical seeder light and allows for more controlled sowing of small seeds such as cultivated carrot or lettuce . All pelleted seminal fluid has a National Organic Program ( NOP ) approved coating . For upright results , store pelleted seminal fluid in an air - tight container and usance within one season .
