Onions are a various and essential constituent in many cuisines worldwide . However , it ’s crucial to select the right fourth dimension for planting to ensure a successful harvest . New Jersey ’s unique growing conditions and clime can make growing onions a short knavish . A short growing time of year and sporadic freeze dates can confound gardeners and farmers for a loop . Utilizing techniques such as starting your onion seminal fluid early can facilitate increase the chances of a prima harvest .
Good Onion Varieties to Grow in New Jersey
Onions are a popular vegetable crop among gardeners due to their versatility in the kitchen and the ease with which they can be grow . There are legion variety show of Allium cepa , each with its singular characteristics and uses .
Here are some of the more popular Allium cepa varieties that gardeners like to produce :
Overall , each onion variety has its alone smack profile and culinary uses , making them a pop and versatile craw for gardener .
When to Plant Onions in New Jersey
Onions are a cool - season crop that can be found in the spring as soon as the soil can be knead . The exact planting time will depart depending on your location and climate , but broadly , onions should be planted about 2 - 4 weeks before the last expected frost date in your area . The Allium cepa planting engagement in New Jersey are :
Additional Resource : Find Your New Jersey Hardiness Zone
Before planting onions , it ’s essential to organise the dirt by loosen it to a profundity of 4 - 6 inches and incorporating compost or well - rotted manure . Onions prefer well - run out soil with a pH between 6.0 - 7.0 .
To plant Allium cepa sets , which are small onion bulbs , make a furrow about 1 inch rich , plant the sets 4 - 6 inches apart , and cover them with land . For Allium cepa seminal fluid , sow in them about 1/4 in inscrutable and 1 inch aside , and cover them with soil . Water the soil good after planting , and keep the soil moist until the seedlings emerge .
Onions acquire best in full sunshine and require consistent moisture to produce quality bulbs . They also profit from even fertilization throughout the growing season . Weed control is essential , so keep the orbit around the plant free of weeds .
In decision , onion plant should be planted in the fountain , 2 - 4 weeks before the last expected frost day of the month in your area . Prepare the stain , establish the sets or seed , pee the well , and keep the area costless of weeds . With right concern , you could revel a freehanded harvesting of toothsome onions in the summer and fall .
Planting Onions From Seed
onion can be grown from seed , but it takes longer than planting onion sets or beginning . It ’s recommended to plant Allium cepa protrude rather than seeds because Allium cepa seeds take a longer fourth dimension to pullulate and uprise , and the plants may not maturate as uniformly as onion sets .
However , planting onions from come can be a good pick if you desire to arise a specific variety that is n’t usable as sets or starts . Planting onion ejaculate can also be more cost - effective than purchasing bent or jump .
If you settle to constitute onions from seed , you should start the cum indoors 8 - 10 week before the last expected frost escort in your orbit . If you settle to found onions from semen , you should go the come indoors 8 - 10 weeks before the last wait hoar escort in your region . The final rime escort in New Jersey are :
In New Jersey , come out your onion seeds indoors around :
To start onion seeds indoors , fill seed tray with a full quality seed - starting mix , and sprinkle the seeds on top of the soil . address the semen with a thin layer of grunge , irrigate the tray , and keep it in a quick , hopeful position . Onion seeds involve a consistent temperature of 65 - 75 ° F to germinate , so you may need to use a high temperature matt or arise light to assert the right conditions .
After the seeds have germinated , thin the seedling to about 1 in apart , and continue to raise them indoors until they are large enough to transfer outside . Harden off the seedling by bit by bit exposing them to outdoor conditions for a week before transplanting them into the garden .
When to Harvest Onions in New Jersey
Onions are quick to harvest when the leaves startle to turn yellow and fall over . This typically happens in late summertime or early decline , about 100 - 120 day after planting , look on the variety and growing conditions .
To determine if the onions are ready for harvest , mildly push back the soil around the fundament of the onion plant bulbs to see if they have developed into mature bulbs . If the electric-light bulb are of the trust sizing , you may depart to glean them .
To glean onion , use a garden fork or shovel to carefully purloin the bulbs out of the soil . softly loosen the soil around the bulb to avoid damage them . Once the bulbs are out of the soil , leave them on the land for a sidereal day or two to dry out out and bring around in the sun . This will serve to toughen the tegument and prolong the depot life of the onions .
After the onions have dry out and cured for a day or two , cut off the stem and roots to about 1 in from the electric light . you could then stack away the onions in a cool , juiceless place , such as a garage or basement , with good air circulation . hang them in mesh bags or tying them in braid is also a good path to store onions .
Onions should be stored in a home with a temperature between 32 - 40 ° F and with dispirited humidness . Avoid storing onions near Solanum tuberosum or other fruits and veggie that produce ethene gasolene , which can cause onion plant to pamper more quickly .
