How many plants for average family:
150 - 200 plants

Type of plant:
annual

Best Varieties:

• White and brown onions - good for cooking

• Red onions - sweeter, used for salads

• Tree onions - harvest bulb and use bulblets on top for propagation

• Potato onions/French shallots - clusters of smaller onions at the base of plant

• Shallots/Green onions - no bulb easier to grow, can grow in bunches

Sowing:
Direct or transplant seedlings. Can be difficult.

Growing Habit:
Day length sensitive plant. Longer days initiate bulb set.
Plant during autumn to establish plant before shortest day of the year.

Growing Conditions:
Need long growing season.
High need for potassium for root set. Sprinkle generously with suplhate of potash at planting or seaweed for best results.
Reduce water after bulb set to harden off bulbs.
Allow to die down and dry out before harvesting and storing.

Companions:
Beetroot, cabbage, chamomile, lettuce, lovage, marjoram, parsley, parsnip, silverbeet, tomato.

Avoid peas and beans.

Problems:
Incorrect pH can cause poor bulb formation and fungal diseases.
Planting at wrong time of year.
Excessive moisture in final stages of growth

Onions, Fabulous, Superb Perfection
 by: Steve Melton

Onions are absolutely one of the most delicious and flexible commodities you use in the kitchen. From savory steaming soups to satisfying homemade salsa, onions play an important part in our daily cooking.

Flavorful appetizers from onion dips to salad dressing, main course casseroles, even the onion focaccia bread accompaniment for dinner.

Buying onions is a simple task. Look for dry, papery skins with no soft spots. You should also notice the absence of any strong odor. A good dry onion will have very little to no smell to it at all. If it has a strong onion odor the onion has already began to turn bad.

Varieties of onion include, Vidalia, Texas 1015, Red, Green, the Walla Walla from Washington and Maui from Hawaii. Sweet onions such as Vidalia and Walla Walla are mellow enough to eat raw, but they are excellent "baked" on the grill and served with grilled steaks or burgers. Try them in the oven too.

Caramelizing onions during cooking will give a rich sweetness to recipes, enhancing kitchen aromas and have everyone asking, “What’s for dinner?” Followed shortly by “fabulous, superb and perfection.”

Capt’n Salsa has an almost comical way of storing onions, but it really works.

Grab an old pair of your wife’s panty hose, cut off the legs. Now you simply drop an onion down into the leg of the hose and tie a knot directly above the onion. Repeat this process until each onion is secured and hang the hose in a cool dry, well ventilated space, out of direct sun light.

To remove the onion, simply cut the hose with a pair of scissors right below the knot and the onion easily falls out. You should be able to keep your onions for about three months.

Kosher salt is one of the best things to use to remove the smell of the onion from your hands. Wash your hands using a little dish washing soap, water and about a teaspoon full of salt. Any salt will do, I just like the course texture of the kosher salt. Rinse your hands and repeat if necessary.

Tears when you chop those onions?

How do you get rid of the tears? Here are a few simple suggestions to “ease your pain.”

You can place the onion in the refrigerator for about thirty minutes prior to chopping or if you are in a hurry toss them in the freezer for about four to five minutes. The cold will tone down the sulfur compound in the juice of the onion. In addition be sure to use the sharpest knife possible to expedite your chopping chores.

About The Author

Steve Melton, aka, Capt’n Salsa has a vast collection of homemade salsa and Mexican Food recipes at his web site, http://www.great-salsa.com discover the Magical Secrets to MouthWatering Mexican Food, too. Visit today for a delicious winter treat.

Onions
... Onions are low in calories and, to be truthful, in most vitamins and minerals (although they do supply ... and garlic as well as onions themselves--are rich sources of a ...
http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/foods_view/1,1523,27,00.html

The World's Healthiest Foods: Feeling Great
Non-profit foundation providing reliable, scientifically accurate, personalized information for convenient and enjoyable healthy eating. ... the distinctively pungent smell and taste of onions filling out the flavors of almost every ... Fortunately, yellow storage onions are available throughout the year but sweet varieties ...
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=45

Onions
... By value, onions rank in the top 10 vegetables produced in the United States ... Onions are a cool season plant which grows well in a wide range of temperatures ...
http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/alt-ag/onions.htm

Growing Onions In The Home Garden, HYG-1616-92
The pungent onions are better suited to long-term storage. The common onion (Allium cepa) , the most popular and widely grown in Ohio home gardens, ... gardens, is grown from either seed, plants or sets for use as both green onions and dry bulbs ... be used for green bunching onions if harvested at the proper stage ...
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1616.html

Onions
GardenGuides' Vegetable Guide feature in-depth articles on growing a wide variety of vegetables. We have handy charts and information on a varitey of topics such as composting, raised beds, winter protection, side dressing and much more. ... Onions should be planted well before the last spring frost date ...
http://www.gardenguides.com/Vegetables/onions.htm