As a various and flavorful component , onions are a beloved basic in West Virginian horticulture . Growing onions in the Mountain State can demo challenge due to its divers weather condition patterns and soil types . To secure a successful onion plant harvest , it ’s essential to empathise the just time to plant them . Some gardeners will want to use rise season annexe techniques , making the most of a variable season . Planting onion at the wrong fourth dimension can lead to stunted growth or even the destruction of the onions . Have no fear though , with a little provision and noesis , gardeners will be ready for whatever West Virginia throws at them .
Good Onion Varieties to Grow in West Virginia
Onions are a pop vegetable harvest among gardener due to their versatility in the kitchen and the ease with which they can be grown . There are numerous variety show of onion , each with its singular characteristic and uses .
Here are some of the more popular onion varieties that gardeners like to grow :
Overall , each Allium cepa variety has its alone flavour profile and culinary uses , earn them a democratic and various craw for gardeners .
When to Plant Onions in West Virginia
Onions are a coolheaded - season crop that can be planted in the give as soon as the soil can be worked . The exact planting time will variegate depending on your location and mood , but generally , onions should be planted about 2 - 4 week before the last ask frost date in your area . The onion plant planting dates in West Virginia are :
Additional Resource : Find Your West Virginia Hardiness Zone
Before planting onions , it ’s of the essence to cook the dirt by loosening it to a profoundness of 4 - 6 column inch and incorporating compost or well - rotted manure . onion prefer well - drain soil with a pH between 6.0 - 7.0 .
To establish onion plant sets , which are low onion bulbs , make a furrow about 1 in deep , embed the set 4 - 6 inch aside , and incubate them with soil . For onion plant seeds , inseminate them about 1/4 inch thick and 1 inch aside , and cover them with dirt . Water the filth exhaustively after imbed , and keep the soil moist until the seedling emerge .
Onions grow good in full sun and require consistent wet to produce quality medulla . They also benefit from even fertilization throughout the growing season . sess control is essential , so keep the region around the flora loose of dope .
In conclusion , Allium cepa should be planted in the spring , 2 - 4 week before the last require rime date in your expanse . Prepare the soil , implant the set or come , body of water the well , and keep the expanse free of weeds . With proper care , you may savor a bountiful harvest home of delicious Allium cepa in the summertime and fall .
Planting Onions From Seed
onion can be grown from seed , but it takes longer than planting onion sets or starts . It ’s recommend to plant onion starts rather than seeds because onion seeds take a longer time to spud and grow , and the plants may not mature as uniformly as onion sets .
However , planting onions from germ can be a good option if you desire to grow a specific miscellany that is n’t usable as sets or starts . Planting onion seeds can also be more toll - in effect than purchasing sets or starts .
If you determine to engraft onions from seed , you should come out the seeds indoors 8 - 10 weeks before the last expect frost date in your area . If you decide to plant Allium cepa from seed , you should start the seeds indoors 8 - 10 weeks before the last expected Robert Frost appointment in your area . The final frost dates in West Virginia are :
In West Virginia , originate your onion seeds indoors around :
To start Allium cepa seed indoors , sate cum trays with a skillful quality source - starting admixture , and sprinkle the seed on top of the dirt . Cover the seeds with a thin stratum of soil , water the tray , and keep it in a warm , brilliant location . onion plant seeds take a ordered temperature of 65 - 75 ° F to germinate , so you may want to expend a heat mat or raise light to wield the correct conditions .
After the germ have germinated , thin the seedlings to about 1 inch apart , and carry on to grow them indoors until they are large enough to transplant outside . Harden off the seedlings by step by step exposing them to outside conditions for a week before transplanting them into the garden .
When to Harvest Onions in West Virginia
Allium cepa are ready to glean when the leaves begin to turn yellow and fall over . This typically materialise in former summertime or early fall , about 100 - 120 day after embed , depending on the kind and uprise conditions .
To correspond if the onions are quick for harvesting , mildly force back the soil around the base of the Allium cepa bulbs to see if they have developed into fledged bulbs . If the bulbs are of the desired size , you’re able to set out to harvest them .
To harvest onions , habituate a garden fork or excavator to carefully abstract the medulla out of the soil . mildly untie the dirt around the medulla oblongata to avoid damaging them . Once the bulb are out of the grease , leave them on the ground for a 24-hour interval or two to dry out and heal in the sun . This will help to toughen the skins and prolong the storage life of the onions .
After the Allium cepa have dried and cured for a twenty-four hour period or two , cut off the stems and roots to about 1 in from the light bulb . you could then store the onions in a cool , dry place , such as a garage or basement , with expert air circulation . Hanging them in mesh bags or tying them in braid is also a good way of life to store onions .
Onions should be stored in a spot with a temperature between 32 - 40 ° F and with low humidity . nullify storing onion near Solanum tuberosum or other fruits and vegetables that produce ethylene gas , which can do onions to spoil more quick .
