How to Plant for a Great Harvest Next Year!
Plant onions in the fall for a head start on a spring harvest.
By Lin Johnson
Planting in the fall allows onions to easily become established in the cool temperatures of autumn. The bulbs then go dormant for winter and come back to life in early spring. That late fall growth gives them a big head start over spring-planted onions.
When planting fall onions, they need around 4 to 6 weeks of growth before a hard freeze or heavy frosts set in. It is best to use sets. Onions seed simply take too long to become established for a fall planting.
Dig a trench in the soil one to two inches wide, and to a depth of two inches. This allows plenty of space for loose soil and good early growth. Next, fill the trench two-thirds full of compost. Plant the bulbs with the point end up, setting each bulb about halfway down into the layer of compost. Space the onions approximately 4″ to 6″ apart to allow plenty of room for growth.
Fill in the trench with the remaining soil to cover the bulbs and water. The bulbs should be covered with about 1/2 to 3/4 inch of soil. Immediately after planting, mulch the soil with a thin layer of straw or shredded leaves. Once seedlings emerge through the ground, add a bit more mulch to provide full protection. Be sure to water at least every few days for the first few weeks until established.
As the cold weather approaches, apply a few more inches of straw or shredded leaves to help insulate the crop for the winter. The onions will go dormant after a few hard freezes. They will remain that way until spring when they begin to grow again.
Advanced Garland County Master Gardener, Lin Johnson, volunteers with Garland County Master Gardeners of the UofA Div. of Agriculture, Cooperative Ext. Service. Master Gardeners pool skills and resources to improve home horticulture, stimulate interest in plants and gardening, and encourage beautification. For more information, call 501-623-6841 or email adykes@uaex.edu. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution.
