Onions are one of the most flavourful ingredients commonly found in every kitchen. Used with both continental and traditional cuisines, it is one food item omnipresent in salads, soups, bread toast and meat. In addition to this, they offer a range of benefits varying from boosting the immune system of the body, keeping cholesterol under control and regulating blood sugar levels. Besides medicinal properties, it has a unique ability to add different flavours to all kinds of food items. White, green and yellow onions are three most common kinds of onions commonly demanded in residential and commercial kitchens. Best quality Onion suppliers and distributors in Mexico supply all kind of onions in minimum duration and at an affordable cost.
Like many other crops, onions are a cold season crop and easy to grow in a backyard of a house. However, it requires the utmost care during plantation and harvesting. If you are interested in growing it in your garden, read this guide carefully.
Planting
Onions are easy to grow from sets, seeds and transplant. Generally speaking, the ideal temperature for onions to grow is below -2 degree C. Regions having frigid winter should plant the onion crop during late March or April. For milder regions, the best season is late fall or winter. It is because the crop will remain inactive during the cold season but ready to grow as soon as milder days of spring arrive. If you are planting from seeds, start planting with indoor minimum 6 weeks before transporting them to the garden. The seeds of onion require 10 degree C temperature for germinating properly.
If you are growing onions from sets i..e small onion bulbs, they mature much faster. Thus, choose those onion sets, which have a diameter of not more than ¾ inches. If planting from the seeds, make a new start every year with fresh seeds as they are short-lived.
How to Prepare the Planting Site?
Select such a location where onions receive full natural sun lighting and not shaded by any other plant.
Clay-heavy or rocky soils affect the onion bulb development significantly. Therefore, prefer growing it in a loose, well-drained and nitrogen rich soil.
Onion plants require constant nourishment; therefore try to add compost or manure in the soil before planting.
While transplanting onion crop from indoor to the garden, keep a space of 4-5 inches between two plants.
During planting, add some good quality nitrogen fertilizer.
Crop rotation with onions is indispensable to discourage the spread of disease affecting the crop year-on-year basis.
Fresh onion suppliers in Mexico source the high quality and organic onions from reputed such farms, which follow these practices religiously.
Harvesting of Onions
When the foliage i.e. top of the onions become yellow and start to fall, it is a clear cut indication of mature onions.
At this point of time, loosen the soil around the bulbs for encouraging drying.
When tops become brown in color, pull the onions.
Make it a point to harvest them before cool weather.
Onions with flower stalks will not grow further. Therefore, use them instantly in any recipe within 2-3 days instead of storing them.
Fresh onion distributors in Mexico store huge quantity of onions in the right manner to meet bulk demands as and when the need arises.
Method of Storing Onions
Cut from the top to 1 inch, clip the root and keep the onion in a ground for a few days so that it can dry.
Store onions when they become completely dry. Try to store them in a mesh bag with braids or with the stems.
Avoid storing onions with potatoes, apples or pears as onions may spoil their flavor.
How to Care Onions?
Consistent watering is not a standard practice with onion crop. One inch of water including rain water is sufficient for it. Water more if you want the sweeter taste.
For getting big bulbs, fertilize it with nitrogen weekly.
Keep watering the onions as they look healthy from outside even in the drought conditions.
Pests and diseases harm the onion crop to a great extent. Therefore, cover your upcoming onion crop with a high-quality mesh netting to protect it from onion maggots. Onion maggots are common during the rainy season. They like laying their eggs near the base of the plant which could be prevented with netting. Another potential threat is thrips, which are tiny insects. If thrips are present, spray the plants with insecticidal soap in every two or three days and they will disappear.
So, you can grow the onion crop in the garden of your house by following these tips and enjoy your produce by adding in various recipes. Else, simply buy the fresh onions from reputed suppliers and distributors in Mexico.