Connecticut is a great place to produce onions , but the timing is critical to a successful harvest . The state ’s unique maturate status , such as its cool clime and short grow season , can affect onion cultivation . sleep with the right time to embed Allium cepa is crucial to maximize the output and calibre of your harvest . Planting onions at the incorrect time can lead to stunted growth , disease , or even complete crop failure . You may also want to view sending techniques that will widen your growing season while protect your crops . There is a lot to take in , but with planning and patience , anyone can have an enviable onion harvesting .
Good Onion Varieties to Grow in Connecticut
onion are a popular vegetable crop among nurseryman due to their versatility in the kitchen and the ease with which they can be grow . There are legion varieties of onion plant , each with its singular characteristics and uses .
Here are some of the more democratic onion varieties that gardeners wish to grow :
Overall , each onion variety has its unique spirit profile and culinary uses , making them a popular and versatile harvest for gardener .
When to Plant Onions in Connecticut
Onions are a cool - time of year craw that can be planted in the outpouring as shortly as the filth can be worked . The exact planting time will vary depending on your location and mood , but generally , onion should be planted about 2 - 4 week before the last expect frost appointment in your sphere . The onion plant planting dates in Connecticut are :
Additional Resource : feel Your Connecticut Hardiness Zone
Before planting Allium cepa , it ’s essential to prepare the soil by tease it to a depth of 4 - 6 inches and contain compost or well - molder manure . onion opt well - draining grease with a pH between 6.0 - 7.0 .
To imbed onion plant set , which are small onion bulbs , make a line about 1 inch deep , institute the sets 4 - 6 column inch asunder , and underwrite them with soil . For onion seeds , sow them about 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch asunder , and handle them with grease . pee the soil thoroughly after planting , and keep the soil moist until the seedling come out .
onion turn well in full sun and require ordered wet to produce quality bulb . They also benefit from regular fertilization throughout the growing season . smoke control is all-important , so keep the area around the plants free of weeds .
In ending , onions should be planted in the spring , 2 - 4 weeks before the last carry icing date in your area . Prepare the soil , constitute the curing or ejaculate , water system the well , and keep the area barren of weeds . With right guardianship , you’re able to enjoy a plentiful harvest of delicious onions in the summer and fall .
Planting Onions From Seed
Allium cepa can be develop from germ , but it takes longer than planting onion sets or starts . It ’s recommend to plant onion plant starts rather than seeds because onion seminal fluid take a long time to germinate and grow , and the plants may not mature as uniformly as onion sets .
However , planting onions from seed can be a just option if you want to produce a specific variety that is n’t available as sets or starts . Planting onion seeded player can also be more price - efficient than purchase sets or head start .
If you make up one’s mind to constitute onions from seed , you should start the seeds indoors 8 - 10 weeks before the last expected hoarfrost date in your area . If you determine to set onions from seeded player , you should start the seeds indoors 8 - 10 weeks before the last expected Robert Frost date in your area . The last hoar date in Connecticut are :
In Connecticut , commence your Allium cepa seeds indoors around :
To originate Allium cepa seeds indoors , fill seed trays with a just quality seed - start mix , and dot the seed on top of the soil . spread over the cum with a thin layer of soil , water the tray , and keep it in a strong , brilliant localization . onion plant seeds necessitate a consistent temperature of 65 - 75 ° F to germinate , so you may require to apply a warmth lusterlessness or maturate light to maintain the right shape .
After the source have germinated , thin the seedlings to about 1 inch apart , and continue to grow them indoors until they are large enough to transplant out of doors . Harden off the seedling by bit by bit exposing them to outside precondition for a week before transplant them into the garden .
When to Harvest Onions in Connecticut
Onions are quick to reap when the leaf start to turn yellow and devolve over . This typically happens in former summer or former fall , about 100 - 120 twenty-four hour period after establish , count on the diversity and growing conditions .
To see if the onions are quick for harvest , gently push back the soil around the Qaeda of the onion bulbs to see if they have developed into mature light bulb . If the medulla oblongata are of the trust size , you could start to harvest them .
To reap onion , use a garden fork or shovel to carefully lift the bulbs out of the territory . softly loosen the soil around the bulbs to invalidate damaging them . Once the bulbs are out of the soil , will them on the soil for a day or two to dry out out and cure in the sun . This will help oneself to toughen the skins and extend the storage life sentence of the onions .
After the onions have dry out and cure for a day or two , cut off the stems and roots to about 1 inch from the bulb . you could then stash away the onions in a coolheaded , dry position , such as a service department or basement , with upright air circulation . hang them in mesh cup of tea or tying them in gold braid is also a good way to store onion plant .
onion should be stored in a place with a temperature between 32 - 40 ° F and with low humidity . Avoid salt away onions near potatoes or other fruit and vegetables that produce ethene gas , which can cause onion to bollix more quickly .
