Onions are widely considered to be a good choice for most home gardeners, as these plants grow well in a variety of locations, and can withstand and thrive in most soil conditions and climates. Planting onions can be as simple as placing sets, or small but well-formed bulbs, directly into the garden, or as hands-on as growing them from seed. Although these plants are generally hardy, they grow their best in at least six hours of full sunlight daily, in moist but well-drained soil, with plenty of nitrogen-based fertilizer.
Planting onions is thought to be an easy task. These plants can be grown in large backyard gardens and apartment window boxes alike, and require a minimum of care. To start, onions can be planted as seedlings, sets, or transplants. Seedlings take a little longer than other options, and are best grown in warmer climates, while sets and transplants take less time to grow and fair well in cooler climates.
The planting of onions can directly influence the size and flavor of these vegetables. For instance, keeping wide spaces between each plant makes it easier to pull weeds that would otherwise compete with the onion for nutrients. Doing this simple task may help increase the chances of yielding larger vegetables. Many differ on their flavor preferences, but for those who prefer a more pungent taste, exposing this plant to warm temperatures while the bulb is beginning to grow can cause a stronger flavor to develop.
Although planting onions may be easy, they may still be plagued by certain problems during their growth. For example, overly dry soil can cause a growing bulb to split before it has fully matured, while overly damp soil can cause the bulb or stem to rot. One of the best solutions for this is to keep the soil moist but well drained.
Planting onions may also serve to attract certain pests, such as onion root maggots and thrips. Onion root maggots generally burrow into and feed off the plant, which will eventually kill it. These maggots may be prevented by a yearly rotation of the plant, as well as covering young plants with plastic sheeting. Thrips are slender, yellow-brown insects that feed off the leaves of onion plants, which may eventually stop them from growing. To help temporarily prevent bug attacks, the onion plant may be covered in either a neem oil used for organic farming, or insecticidal soap.
