Organic growing practices are becoming more widespread, and many people are choosing to grow onions and garlic at home.
Whichever variety you choose, you can grow them all in pots and achieve excellent results in about 6 to 7 months. To enjoy the benefits of growing garlic and onions at home, all you need is a small balcony and some pots. Over time, you’ll be able to appreciate the many benefits these two vegetables offer, which are beneficial for your health and well-being.
Grow garlic and onion at home
The Liliaceae family includes garlic, onion and shallot , which are highly valued in cooking for their organoleptic characteristics and the benefits they provide to our bodies. If you too want to successfully grow these edible bulbs , it is important to know the right techniques. For example, you need to know the best time to plant or sow them and what care practices to adopt to promote their growth. By following these guidelines, you will be able to obtain a quality and abundant harvest.
How to Grow Onions and Garlic at Home
Garlic, onions, and shallots belong to the Liliaceae family , but have different shoots. While shallots produce 3 or 4 bulbs per plant, onions usually only produce one. Regardless of the type of onion, such as white, red, yellow, or spring, caring for them is simple. These plants do not require a lot of water , but do need soil enriched with organic matter. However, overly nutritious soil could cause the bulbs to rot.
Right time to plant and choice of land
To prepare for growing onions, you must first obtain seeds or bulbs . It is important to know that onions are usually planted in spring , preferably in March or April, or in September or October for those who live in the southern hemisphere. For cultivation, the pot should be about 30 cm deep and about 30 cm wide . In each pot, it is possible to plant at least two onions, using different seeds or two bulbs. Finally, it is recommended to choose a light soil enriched with natural fertilizer.
Growing onions
To start growing onions, the first thing to do is prepare the soil, which should not be too clayey or sandy . It is best to have loose soil so that the onion can grow freely. In this way, it will also be possible to obtain adequate nutrients through the use of natural fertilizers.
Cultivation soil
If you decide to plant the seeds, it is important to introduce them to a depth of about 2.5 cm. In addition, it is important to keep in mind that, in this case, it will be advisable to keep the onions indoors for at least a month, until the onion cut outside has sprouted.
Growing garlic
To begin, you need to take the head of garlic and separate the cloves one by one . The next step is to prepare the pot, which requires the presence of drainage at the bottom, so that excess water can easily drain each time the pot is watered.
Gravel is the most common solution for this purpose. Next, the garlic cloves are placed in the jar. It is important to do this precisely, placing them 10 centimeters deep and with the pointed end facing upwards.
Several cloves can be planted in the same pot, but they must be at least 8 centimeters apart .
Finally, it is advisable to place the vase in a place where it receives direct sunlight , as previously indicated. Garlic does not tolerate excess moisture, so it is sufficient to water it once a week.
Grow at home
To successfully grow garlic , it is important to avoid competition with other plants and therefore to hoe the soil regularly.
How to Harvest and Store Garlic and Onion
To ensure the proper preservation of garlic and onion, it is essential to harvest them correctly .
Onion. For immediate consumption, it is possible to harvest the bulbs while they are still “green” , that is, when the leaves are still green, and in this case, all parts of the plant are edible. Whereas, if you want to preserve the harvest for future use, you must wait for the right moment . The ideal time for harvesting is determined by the state of the plant cover:
Garlic: To harvest garlic and shallots, you must wait until at least two-thirds of the leaves are dry , and this usually happens in late June or early July for garlic and gray shallots, while for pink shallots you must wait until July or August . As for the red onion, it must be harvested when all the leaves have wilted, which occurs in July or August . The white onion, on the other hand, which is planted in autumn, must be harvested and consumed in spring.