Growing Onions in Austin
Onions grow really well in Austin, Texas. Onions are not bothered by most insects and have modest fertilizer requirements.
You can grow onions from sets, seeds or from a bunch. The most economical route is from seed, but I like to start with bunches. I purchased my onion bunch from the Natural Gardener in January. It was $2.00 and had about 70 baby onions ready to go.
Cultivating onions.
1. Prepare your soil by removing all of the weeds.
2. Improve the soil each year with a healthy amount of organic matter. I like to use aged compost. I top the soil with 4 to 5 inches of it, then dig it in using a pitch fork.
3. It's time to plant. I take a hoe and make a trench 3 to 4 inches deep. I put bone meal into the bottom of the trench. Bone meal is a slow release source for phosphorus.
4. Dress the surface with a balanced organic fertilizer, one that has ample Nitrogen.
Spacing onions.
1. Space your onions 5 to 6" apart and stagger your rows.
2. Mulch is important as the onions will be developing in the summer and our summer is hot, hot, hot.
Onions just a few weeks after planting.
Juvenile onions in April.
Sweet onions air drying for the day. Onions will easily store for 3 months.
Onions are easy to grow in Austin!