It’s About Thyme
by CHRIS WINSLOW
It’s time for gardeners to be on the lookout for this fall’s onion sets. The big onion farms of south Texas should start shipping these seedlings this week.
At the nursery I am often asked by curious gardeners how to grow a good crop of onions. The secret really is in the timing.
Because our summers are so warm, we have to choose short-day onions. (Folks up north plant long-day onions.)
These short-day onions are planted during the ‘short days’ of fall and winter, and start the bulbing process when the length of the day reaches 10 to 12 hours. They mature in 110 to 120 days. Onions planted in the fall have a longer time to grow than those planted in winter or early spring. Simply stated - the earlier you plant them, the larger the onion.
Here are some tried and true varieties for our central Texas region:
Texas 1015y – A super sweet, globe-shaped yellow onion that can reach a 6 inch diameter. This is the favorite onion of Texas. 1015 means 10th month, 15th day. This is the date they should be planted from seed. The ‘Y’ means – yellow, the color of the onion.
Contessa - A white, globe- shaped onion. Not as sweet as 1015 but still on the sweet side. Mature size - 5 inches.
Yellow Granex – A semi-flat, yellow, sweet onion that can grow to a mature width of 5 inches. This is the Vidalia onion of Georgia.
Bermuda – This is an heirloom variety brought from the Canary Islands to south Texas in the late 1800s. Bermuda is white, sweet, and its shape is flat. Grows to 3 to 4 inches in diameter. This variety makes great ‘green’ onions when harvested early.
Southern Belle Red – A sweet, red, globe-shaped onion that matures to 4 inches.
Onions need lots of sunshine and good drainage. Adding compost will loosen compacted soils and add beneficial amendments to the soil.
Onion seedlings (sets) should be planted 1 inch deep and 4 to 5 inches apart. If you want to harvest green onions, plant 2 inches apart and harvest every other onion, leaving some to grow to maturity.
Be sure to water in your onions after planting. This will keep them from drying out and give them a good start.
Happy gardening everyone!
If you have a question for Chris, send it via email to [email protected]. Or mail a postcard to It’s About Thyme: 11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX 78748 www.itsaboutthyme.com.
