Kentucky ’s unique growing conditions make it an idealistic blank space for growing onions . However , to assure a bountiful harvest home , it is essential to select the good time for planting . It ’s all important to have a thoroughgoing understanding of the local climate and growing precondition to maximize the output and quality of the crop . We will get out down the best sentence to engraft onions in Kentucky and provide specific localized selective information about the climate and implant windows in your area .
Good Onion Varieties to Grow in Kentucky
Onions are a democratic veggie crop among gardeners due to their versatility in the kitchen and the simplicity with which they can be grown . There are numerous varieties of onions , each with its unique characteristic and uses .
Here are some of the more popular onion plant varieties that gardeners like to grow :
Overall , each onion diverseness has its unique relish visibility and culinary uses , establish them a popular and versatile crop for gardener .
When to Plant Onions in Kentucky
onion are a cool - season craw that can be constitute in the spring as soon as the grime can be work . The exact planting time will deviate count on your placement and clime , but generally , onions should be planted about 2 - 4 hebdomad before the last ask frost escort in your area . The Allium cepa planting escort in Kentucky are :
Additional Resource : recover Your Kentucky Hardiness Zone
Before planting onions , it ’s essential to prepare the dirt by loosening it to a deepness of 4 - 6 inches and incorporating compost or well - rotted manure . Onions favour well - debilitate filth with a pH between 6.0 - 7.0 .
To plant onion plant curing , which are small onion light bulb , make a crinkle about 1 inch abstruse , implant the set 4 - 6 inches aside , and underwrite them with land . For onion seeds , sow them about 1/4 inch bass and 1 inch apart , and cover them with stain . urine the dirt soundly after plant , and keep the land moist until the seedling emerge .
onion plant raise best in full sunshine and require consistent moisture to produce timber bulb . They also benefit from regular fertilisation throughout the growing season . Weed control is indispensable , so keep the sphere around the plant life liberal of weeds .
onion plant should be constitute in the spring , 2 - 4 workweek before the last expect rime date in your arena . Prepare the ground , plant the stage set or seed , water the well , and keep the area free of weeds . With right care , you may enjoy a bountiful harvest of delicious onions in the summer and dusk .
Planting Onions From Seed
Onions can be grow from seeded player , but it take longer than planting onion plant solidification or starts . It ’s recommended to plant onion protrude rather than seeded player because onion plant seeds take a foresighted time to germinate and produce , and the plants may not mature as uniformly as onion sets .
However , planting onion plant from semen can be a expert alternative if you need to grow a specific variety that is n’t available as sets or starts . Planting onion come can also be more cost - good than purchasing solidification or starts .
If you decide to plant onion plant from source , you should lead off the seeds indoors 8 - 10 hebdomad before the last expect frost date in your field . If you decide to plant onions from source , you should get the seeds indoors 8 - 10 weeks before the last expected hoar date in your area . The final freeze date in Kentucky are :
In Kentucky , start your onion seed indoors around :
To bulge out onion semen indoors , meet cum trays with a just quality seed - start mix , and sprinkle the seeds on top of the soil . overlay the seeds with a flimsy layer of soil , water the tray , and keep it in a lovesome , burnished location . Onion seeds take a consistent temperature of 65 - 75 ° F to develop , so you may ask to use a heat mat or farm light to maintain the correct stipulation .
After the seed have germinated , thin the seedling to about 1 inch apart , and continue to uprise them indoors until they are large enough to transplant outside . Harden off the seedling by step by step uncover them to outdoor conditions for a week before transplant them into the garden .
When to Harvest Onions in Kentucky
Onions are quick to harvest when the leave of absence start to turn yellow and fall down over . This typically happens in later summer or early fall , about 100 - 120 twenty-four hour period after plant , depending on the variety and growing conditions .
To correspond if the onions are ready for harvest , gently push back the soil around the base of the onion plant bulbs to see if they have modernise into mature medulla oblongata . If the medulla are of the want size , you may commence to harvest them .
To glean Allium cepa , habituate a garden fork or shovel to carefully lift the bulbs out of the soil . softly loosen the territory around the incandescent lamp to avoid damaging them . Once the bulbs are out of the soil , get out them on the ground for a day or two to dry out and bring around in the sunshine . This will aid to toughen the skin and prolong the storage life of the onions .
After the onions have dry out and cured for a day or two , cut off the stems and roots to about 1 inch from the bulb . you may then store the onions in a cool , dry place , such as a garage or cellar , with serious line circulation . Hanging them in mesh bags or tying them in braids is also a proficient way to stash away onions .
Onions should be stored in a place with a temperature between 32 - 40 ° F and with abject humidness . Avoid storing onions near potatoes or other fruit and vegetables that produce ethylene throttle , which can induce onions to spoil more quickly .
