Tennessee ’s unequalled climate and growing conditions can pose challenges for onion growers , make it critical to select the correct time for planting . To maximize onion plant yields in Tennessee , it ’s essential to understand the climate and choose the good planting time . In this article , we ’ll explore the optimum metre for planting onions in Tennessee , provide elaborated instructions and local planting windows to serve reach a successful harvest .
Good Onion Varieties to Grow in Tennessee
Onions are a popular veg craw among gardener due to their versatility in the kitchen and the comfort with which they can be grown . There are numerous varieties of onions , each with its unparalleled characteristics and use .
Here are some of the more pop onion sort that gardeners care to grow :
Overall , each Allium cepa variety has its singular flavor profile and culinary use , attain them a popular and various crop for gardener .
When to Plant Onions in Tennessee
onion plant are a cool - time of year crop that can be plant in the spring as soon as the soil can be work . The exact planting time will vary depending on your location and climate , but broadly speaking , onions should be plant about 2 - 4 weeks before the last have a bun in the oven hoar date in your surface area . The onion planting particular date in Tennessee are :
Additional Resource : Find Your Tennessee Hardiness Zone
Before planting onions , it ’s essential to prepare the land by loosen it to a depth of 4 - 6 inches and incorporate compost or well - rotted manure . onion prefer well - draining soil with a pH between 6.0 - 7.0 .
To found onion sets , which are modest onion plant bulb , make a furrow about 1 in deep , plant the sets 4 - 6 inch apart , and brood them with soil . For onion plant seeds , sow in them about 1/4 in abstruse and 1 inch apart , and cover them with soil . piss the soil thoroughly after planting , and keep the soil moist until the seedlings come forth .
Onions mature well in full sun and require consistent moisture to give rise calibre bulbs . They also benefit from even fertilization throughout the growing season . Weed restraint is essential , so keep the area around the plants free of weeds .
In end , onions should be planted in the spring , 2 - 4 week before the last carry freeze date in your country . groom the soil , found the solidification or seeds , water the well , and keep the area free of weeds . With proper care , you’re able to love a bountiful harvest home of scrumptious onions in the summer and downfall .
Planting Onions From Seed
Onions can be grown from seed , but it takes longer than planting Allium cepa set or starts . It ’s commend to found onion plant starts rather than germ because Allium cepa source take a longer sentence to shoot and grow , and the plants may not mature as uniformly as onion sets .
However , planting onion from seed can be a good pick if you desire to grow a specific variety that is n’t usable as sets or starts . Planting Allium cepa seeds can also be more cost - effective than purchasing sets or starts .
If you decide to implant onion from seed , you should jump the semen indoors 8 - 10 weeks before the last expected frost date in your sphere . If you decide to plant onion from ejaculate , you should startle the source indoors 8 - 10 weeks before the last expect frost particular date in your area . The final icing dates in Tennessee are :
In Tennessee , part your onion plant seeds indoors around :
To start onion seeds indoors , fill up seed tray with a good quality seed - starting mix , and patter the seminal fluid on top of the soil . Cover the seeds with a flimsy layer of filth , water the tray , and keep it in a warm , lustrous fix . Onion seed ask a consistent temperature of 65 - 75 ° F to germinate , so you may need to use a heat energy mat or grow light to maintain the right term .
After the seed have germinated , thin the seedlings to about 1 inch asunder , and continue to turn them indoors until they are big enough to transplant outside . Harden off the seedling by gradually divulge them to outdoor conditions for a workweek before transfer them into the garden .
When to Harvest Onions in Tennessee
Allium cepa are ready to reap when the leaf initiate to turn yellow and flow over . This typically happen in late summer or former fall , about 100 - 120 days after planting , calculate on the potpourri and growing conditions .
To see if the onions are ready for harvest , gently push back the soil around the basis of the Allium cepa bulb to see if they have developed into mature bulbs . If the bulb are of the desired size of it , you may pop out to harvest them .
To harvest onions , use a garden fork or digger to carefully lift the medulla out of the soil . Gently loosen the soil around the bulbs to avoid damaging them . Once the bulbs are out of the soil , leave them on the ground for a day or two to dry out out and bring around in the sun . This will aid to toughen the skins and draw out the storage sprightliness of the onions .
After the onion have dry and cure for a day or two , trim down off the stems and roots to about 1 in from the electric light . you may then hive away the Allium cepa in a cool , ironical place , such as a garage or basement , with good air circulation . Hanging them in mesh bags or link them in braids is also a sound mode to lay in onion .
onion plant should be store in a place with a temperature between 32 - 40 ° F and with modest humidity . Avoid put in Allium cepa near white potato vine or other fruits and vegetables that produce ethylene accelerator , which can cause onions to spoil more quickly .
