In Utah , Allium cepa farmers must navigate a unique set of growing conditions to produce a successful crop . From the high - altitude terrain to the arid mood , growing onion plant in Utah requires accurate timing of planting to maximize yield and character . take the best time to plant onions can not only protect them from frost but also stretch the growing season . Using local frost dates and the planting technique below , anyone can grow delicious onion plant .
Good Onion Varieties to Grow in Utah
Onions are a popular vegetable crop among gardeners due to their versatility in the kitchen and the ease with which they can be grown . There are numerous varieties of onion plant , each with its singular characteristic and use .
Here are some of the more democratic onion varieties that gardeners like to grow :
Overall , each Allium cepa change has its unique feel visibility and culinary economic consumption , make them a popular and versatile crop for gardeners .
When to Plant Onions in Utah
Onions are a cool - season crop that can be engraft in the give as shortly as the soil can be work . The accurate planting fourth dimension will vary depending on your location and clime , but loosely , onion should be implant about 2 - 4 weeks before the last expected frost date in your area . The Allium cepa planting date in Utah are :
Additional Resource : Find Your Utah Hardiness Zone
Before planting onions , it ’s essential to prepare the soil by loose it to a astuteness of 4 - 6 inches and incorporating compost or well - rotted manure . onion prefer well - drain dirt with a pH between 6.0 - 7.0 .
To set Allium cepa sets , which are small onion bulbs , make a furrow about 1 inch deep , plant the sets 4 - 6 inches aside , and cut through them with soil . For onion plant ejaculate , sow them about 1/4 inch deep and 1 in apart , and insure them with grease . Water the dirt thoroughly after planting , and keep the soil moist until the seedlings emerge .
onion grow best in full sun and need consistent moisture to produce tone bulbs . They also benefit from veritable fertilization throughout the growing time of year . Weed command is all important , so keep the area around the plant gratuitous of weeds .
In conclusion , onions should be planted in the leap , 2 - 4 week before the last expect frost particular date in your area . devise the soil , plant the set or germ , body of water the well , and keep the area free of weed . With proper charge , you could bask a bountiful harvest of delicious onions in the summertime and fall .
Planting Onions From Seed
Onions can be grown from ejaculate , but it takes longer than planting onion sets or starts . It ’s recommended to plant Allium cepa commence rather than seeds because onion seeds take a longer time to germinate and grow , and the plants may not mature as uniformly as onion sets .
However , planting onions from seed can be a good choice if you require to grow a specific motley that is n’t available as stage set or starts . Planting Allium cepa seeds can also be more cost - effectual than purchase solidifying or starts .
If you decide to plant onion from seed , you should jump the seed indoors 8 - 10 weeks before the last carry frost escort in your area . If you decide to plant onions from seed , you should commence the seed indoors 8 - 10 weeks before the last expected frost particular date in your sphere . The final rime dates in Utah are :
In Utah , start your onion seeds indoors around :
To commence onion cum indoors , fill seed tray with a beneficial quality come - starting mixture , and sprinkle the seminal fluid on top of the dirt . pass over the semen with a thin bed of soil , water the tray , and keep it in a warm , brilliant placement . Onion seeds need a reproducible temperature of 65 - 75 ° F to germinate , so you may involve to use a passion mat or grow luminosity to maintain the right conditions .
After the seeds have bourgeon , thin the seedlings to about 1 inch aside , and continue to grow them indoors until they are big enough to transplant outside . Harden off the seedlings by step by step exposing them to out-of-door condition for a week before transplanting them into the garden .
When to Harvest Onions in Utah
Allium cepa are ready to reap when the leaves begin to work yellow and pass over . This typically come about in late summertime or early fall , about 100 - 120 days after found , depend on the variety and growing condition .
To confirm whether the onion are ready for harvest , gently crusade back the soil around the base of the onion plant bulbs to see if they have spring up into mature bulb . If the bulb are of the desire size of it , you could initiate to harvest them .
To glean onions , use a garden ramification or excavator to carefully annul the bulb out of the soil . Gently loosen the soil around the bulbs to debar damaging them . Once the bulbs are out of the soil , leave them on the ground for a day or two to dry out and cure in the sun . This will help to toughen the skins and prolong the storage life of the onions .
After the onions have dry out and cured for a day or two , cut off the prow and root to about 1 in from the incandescent lamp . you may then store the onions in a nerveless , dry place , such as a garage or cellar , with good air circulation . Hanging them in mesh bags or bind them in tress is also a good way to stash away onion .
Onions should be stash away in a place with a temperature between 32 - 40 ° F and with low humidness . ward off storing onions near potatoes or other fruits and vegetables that create ethene throttle , which can cause onions to pamper more quickly .
