What Is the Best Way to Grow Onions?

What Is the Best Way to Grow Onions?

Onions are one of the most versatile vegetables to grow, and there are many methods of growing for you to choose from based on which best suits your needs. The growing methods you can choose from include growing them from seeds, plants and sets. When working your growing in and around your daily life, it can be quite an advantage to have the benefit of choice dependent on your own requirements. So, take a look below to find out what the best and easiest ways to grow onions are.

Growing Onions from Seed

Growing onion seeds is less commonly done, though it is a method that poses various benefits. For example, there are many varieties to review when growing from seed, which allows for flexible sowing times. This variety when growing onions from seed allows you to explore countless options for growing many different cultivars to grow the exact variety you would like. With some extra work, you can grow onions at a much lower cost through growing by seed.

Advantages:

  • Many varieties to choose from
  • Less prone to bolting
  • Flexible sowing times
  • Good to store
  • Can be sown directly into their final positions
  • The most economical way to grow onions
  • Disadvantages:

  • More labour intensive
  • Longer growing season
  • Flexible sowing times
  • More susceptible to pests and diseases
  • Longer growing season means it takes longer to reach the end goal
  • Growing Onions from Sets

    Onion sets are small, dry, dormant onion bulbs that have grown from the previous year. They appear as small bulbs that then mature into full-size bulbs. Sets do have fewer varieties to choose from than seeds or plants, but are easier to grow as the seed-growing stages have been removed. Onions are usually grown from sets as the most popular option, as their ease of growing makes them a straightforward option. As a result, this makes them the easiest way to grow onions for both novices and experienced gardeners alike.

    Advantages:

  • Easier to plant
  • Easier to grow than seeds or plants, maturing in as little as three months
  • Less susceptible to disease
  • Can withstand light freezes
  • Instant gratification
  • Disadvantages:

  • Fewer varieties to choose from
  • More prone to bolting, unless using heat-treated varieties
  • Not as cost-effective as seed
  • Growing Onions from Plants

    Growing onions from plants, or transplants, involves growing them from small seedlings. Providing an alternate option from seeds or sets, growing onion plants offers several advantages. In a similar way to seeds, they offer more variety than growing onions from sets and are simpler to grow than straight from seeds. However, they can be somewhat more expensive than growing them from seed.

    Advantages

  • They require about two months to reach maturity
  • Many varieties to choose from, similar to seeds
  • Less labour intensive than seed
  • Germination uncertainty is reduced
  • Disadvantages

  • Not as cost-effective as seed
  • Certain varieties may be more difficult to find
  • What Is the Best Way to Grow Onions?

    The best way to grow onions is entirely dependent on what your requirements are, as each presents different benefits. The easiest way to grow onions is to grow them from sets, as cutting out the initial seed-growing stage makes it much simpler. However, growing from seed allows you to have much more variety in which cultivar of onions you grow. Additionally, growing onions from plants offers a similar variety as seeds do though without the labour-intensiveness of seeds but at an increased cost. Therefore, the best way to grow onions is entirely down to your preferences.

    Buy Onion Seeds, Sets and Plants at D.T. Brown Seeds

    We hope the above advantages and disadvantages have helped you come to a decision on which growing method is best for you. If you’re looking for specific advice on how to grow your onions, we have plenty more helpful tips in our gardening blog. You can read our blogs on hhow to grow onions, shallots, and garlic from sets as well as how to grow onions and shallots from seed for more in-depth growing information. Whichever method you choose, you can find quality onion sets, seeds and plants in our shop at D.T. Brown to grow your onions, your way. You can also find many more gardening accessories, as we have tools and accessories, vegetable garden seeds and plants, flower seeds, fruit seeds, and more to help you keep your growing space full of life. If you’d like to ask us about our range, feel free to get in touch with any questions. A member of our team will be more than happy to help.

    Pim Dickson

    Plant Expert

    When Pim joined D.T. Brown, it was originally as a seed buyer, but now as our planting & sowing expert, he’s responsible for all horticultural and technical content, sharing his expertise in this catalogue, and through the growing advice and tips on our seed packets.

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