SIX Foolproof Onion Tips You Probably Didn’t Know You Needed

[@jeffmeyers3837]

1:30 Never plant deeper than the white of the onion (or will get smaller bulb, cut tops off if they are too top heavy, won't hurt them) 3:52 Don't harvest too early, leave in ground until last second 5:59 Lots of nitrogen (leaf development important, those are onion layers) 7:26 Lots of water (under-watering leads to small bulbs, avoid root rot with well-draining soil) 8:54 Seeds vs Sets (use seeds, larger onion, won't be green in middle, cheaper) 11:13 Pruning your onions (keeps weight off neck, if neck bends it stops growing, doesn't hurt it to prune, commercial growers do it)

[@marthakratz7877]

Thank you for making the list for us.

[@Dltp259]

Thanks! Fantastic list I’ll keep for next season!

[@luciatheron1621]

I use the side leaves in salads, soups etc. Yummy

[@surgicalg9143]

Do you direct sow the seeds.?

[@jeffmeyers3837]

@@surgicalg9143No, and I'll explain why. My season is only 120 days, and onions are very slow to start growing. They're also one of the few crops it doesn't hurt to start too early, because you can trim them down to 5" (haircuts) if they get too tall before you transplant. So I start mine in seed trays in January and transplant in April, about 4 weeks before my last frost since they can handle some cold. So for me they're in trays 3-4 months, and if they grow more than 5" just trim the top, they'll thicken up a bit which is good for them.

[@marcidevries5515]

As a seed seller, you should emphasize that there are some varieties that are just plain BIGGER than other varieties! I had a goal of 250 onions for this year. I've harvested 150 so far and may pull the rest of them before tomorrow's forecast of storms in west Michigan. I think that I have exceeded my goal! (Update: 368!)

[@aloras405]

This is true for just about any kind of plant I think.

[@mimasminihomestead]

What variety do you recommend for large onions??

[@carolross7601]

Should always say how much trifecta per square foot for example

[@DanielleBlanchardArts]

What variety?

[@luciencote5786]

❤​@@aloras405😢 attest

[@userunknown7675]

My biggest onion tip, start early they are about the first crop you can sow and sets are the first thing that can be planted out.

[@daveglowa9546]

Do onions need to be hardened off before transplant

[@sharonjennings1282]

As usual, this was another great video! I do trim my onions per your suggestion. When I cut back my onion tops, I make green onion salt. After washing and drying the onion tops, you put them in a blender or a ninja or other food processor, and add sea salt or kosher salt, or Himalayan salt. Blend Together then spread onto a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Turn your oven to 170 and when it has preheated, turn it off, but leave the oven light on and put that cookie sheet on the top shelf. It will take somewhere between 24 and 36 hoursbut it will turn to a thin brick and then you just throw it back in your food processor and you have onion salt!

[@gasque65]

Thank you for the salt recipe. Did not know about this

[@battleground5384]

Please write a book on gardening! Tips an tricks for different crops. LoVE your videos and they have helped me so so much! THANK YOU for all the information you share 🤩

[@slyborgl]

I second this - a book would be lovely!! ❤

[@andreacoffin7654]

He has a book, "The Autopilot Garden: A Guide to Hands Off Gardening "

[@farmermarshall]

Although I grew most of my garden from seeds I used bulbs to get my first decent crop of onions this year. I'm much more confident in growing from tiny seeds now that I'm committing to grow EVERYTHING from seed from now on. The cost of seeds just makes sense! Thanks for the tips!

[@ms.rickie]

Did you get big onions out of the bag of onion bulbs? I don’t really want to do seeds but I want big onions.

[@MichelleMonstera]

Whoa!! Super cool time lapse at @ 6:51!

[@sharonousmankobo3602]

Thank you for this video! I was burying the entire bulbs! Very important lesson learned! I love red onions.

[@ngrisel95]

I just had my first “successful” onion crop this year and you’re right! They are my new favorite crop. But-I made most of the mistakes you just addressed - not pruning, feeding phosphorus, not enough water and harvesting too early. 😢 So I’m really excited about trying these tips for next year and upping my game! Thanks for your timely, concise, and expert advice!

[@matthewwarren6196]

Brotha...... I live in the thumb and gave up on onions 2 years ago. Watching this I have learned a ton about onions and I'm excited for next year. One question I do have though, is if you plant by seed how do you avoid the planting deeper than the white of the onion problem?

[@hitchhikerfromanothergalaxy]

Hopefully, Luke will answer this, but I asked an Amish lady I know (here in Michigan) when I saw her coming out of her garden with the most gorgeous onions. She said to plant the seed to the depth as stated on the seed packet and RESIST the urge to pile dirt up around it after they come up and you can see the bulb starting to form. She said the onions know what they are doing and will push themselves up out of the dirt. Leave them alone and just water, weed, fertilize, and prune as necessary.

[@garydarel1322]

When you start onions by seed, you don't put them in the ground first, multi sow them in a seed tray with the whole package of 150 seeds from a seed packet. After they grow on for a month or so, then you can easily separate them and plant them up to the white bulb. Hope this helps

[@garydarel1322]

Also if you are in the South, you should choose a short day variety. Luke has a video about that as well.

[@geirkselim2697]

Start them inside early.

[@nelliesfarm8473]

What do you mean, you live in the thumb?

[@perkinshomestead]

LOL! That's why your ripped! You made laugh today. Thanks Luke for that and for explaining onions better to this old gardener. I am going to plant seeds (after I buy some from MIgardener).

[@susanhenley8240]

I'm one of those that thought buying sets was the way to go, putting me 'ahead' of the growing game. Learned the hard way, should have watched more of your onion videos sooner.

[@ms.rickie]

When you say buying sets, do you mean buying a little bulbs that are in the mesh bags at the Garden store?

[@carrieberrykix]

​​@@ms.rickieyes. Onion sets are the little baby bulbs in the mesh bag. Onion starts are a bundle of little onion shoots that were started from seed that will be with the fresh plants at your garden store.

[@sta8tosporter998]

Mate this is one of the most informative videos I’ve watched on KZbin yet I didn’t know half that stuff thanks for sharing 👍👍👍

[@bonnieingraham6147]

Great tips, Luke. Especially the tip on pruning! Be on the lookout for the Allium leaf miner!! Started in PA a few years ago and is in MD now where I live. Only way to fight them is with insect netting or row covers.

[@brandonbatz3147]

I just commented on this as well!! I HATE ALM lol. I'm in Southern Pennsylvania

[@bonnieingraham6147]

@@brandonbatz3147 they ruined my whole crop last year. Had a good crop this year by using insect netting.

[@TorahFirma]

I do that every year, and they fall over, don't seem to grow, and the biggest I've ever gotten is about the size of a golf ball. I prune the tops to try and keep them upright, but they just end up being done long before they're very big. I've narrowed it down to soil that's "too" soft- we have nice loam here, probably needing to fertilize more, and a sunnier spot. Next year, I'm going to put them in a place that gets more sun, has firmer soil, and using a higher nitrogen fertilizer. I actually did have some onions that overwintered, so I did an experiment. I pruned off the stem that produces the flower on some of them (like when you remove scapes on garlic), and others I allowed to flower for the seeds. The ones I pruned actually ended up producing a decent size bulb on them, yes, they weren't huge and we definitely used them right away. So I would definitely say, if you want to use onion sets, you might as well just overwinter the ones that didn't produce big onions the previous year. :)

[@melissaschloneger9902]

I have made the same mistakes. This year I watered them more and saw better results. Sometimes when the greens flop, it is from lack of water…

[@TorahFirma]

@@melissaschloneger9902 thanks for the tip! We got so much rain this season, I didn’t think there was any way it could have been that, but maybe they still needed some in the interim periods when it would dry out for a few days!

[@jewelsparrow7826]

Up here in the Midwest, we need to purchase long-day onion seeds in order to grow a large onion. This was my mistake. The stores up here just sell any onion - typically day neutrals.

[@kelliwebb2870]

Every one of my onions this year rotted. They were not too wet as we only had three days of rain in June, three days in July and four days in August. We are in zone 10a, southwest florida. The tips never died back but when it was time to harvest they were all mush in the ground. I’ve never had that happen before and man was I disappointed!z

[@garymanuel4710]

Thank you so much for this video, while watching i learn every mistake i had done with my onion planting, right from the start by covering them to deep, & never cutting the tops & had many of mine just flopped over, i have grown nice carrots, turnip, cabbage, & potatoes, but never had much luck with onions to where my average size came to the size of egg at harvest time, & here in eastern Canada we do have short growing season, But this year becuse of this warm summer i am very proud to say couple of my last years onion crop t left in the soil, thay have flowered & now i will have my own seed for next yr so proud of myself after about 5 yrs trying to get far enough to have my own seed, in hopes next season i will lots of onion sandwiches, fried onions & mushrooms, alone or on my steaks & pork chops lol, great video tks again

[@FrozEnbyWolf150]

The worst mistake I made was intercropping onions too close to other plants. I had them next to my lettuce and the lettuce overgrew and shaded them out, knocking over the onion stems and killing the plants. I'm going to have to give the onions their own separate space next year.

[@Eliezer737]

Thank you! Can we plant onions 🧅 in fall? Blessings!

[@markizanochi65]

You know last yr when I have onions like you have there bunching blooming,I cut that green tops and make pesto rom it,add garlic, little basil,parsley and dill,all I have in late garden,also kale little,food processor,oil,lemon juice and cheese,in ziplock bags and freeze. Taking when I need ,defrost,add more oil and have fresh made pesto all the time in winter. ❤

[@northerngirlhobbies]

Awesome thanks Luke. Have yet to master a good onion harvest.

[@stephaniegee227]

I made a lot of mistakes with my onions this year, and it showed. BUT I have figured out many of the things which I didn't do correctly, and I'm now looking forward to trying again next season!! Thanks for giving me even more information on how to do it right!

[@joannrowland-wk6rm]

Thanks so much for these tips! I've been struggling to understand onions for a couple of years. 3rd times a charm! 😅

[@angelaanderson5360]

Finally I get it. Thanks Luke.

[@douglasparker577]

Brilliant work. Thanks Douglas from Down Under.

[@rosenurse7687]

You are such a great teacher! Thank you for sharing!

[@CaptainKseadog1]

Hi Luke, thanks for solving my onion dilemma. My onions and garlic at harvest were very small and disappointing. When i planted the young sprouts in early Spring i then covered the entire bed with a 2-3 inch layer of cedar shavings. I thought this would help maintain moisture and help the plants. Instead it smothered them giving me marble size garlic and golf ball size onions😢 Trying again in '24.

[@angelaraum1545]

No mulching?

[@elizabethlane8690]

I didn’t know most of this to be honest, makes me want to try growing onions again!

[@upinya5223]

Yep onions and carrots my favorites

[@kristin143]

I love how you re-enact the pruning from d farm u worked at, that's kinda cute and funny

[@lucasnon1070]

From Luke to Luke, your channel rocks! 🎸. Thanks for all the info!

[@gjsmimi4474]

Loving these onion videos! I've grown from onion sets, but this will be the first year I'm growing onions from seed. Now i understand why the sets grew like they did.

[@meriammongaya9164]

Thank you for sharing.

[@gregdoh]

I grew onions from sets once. Never again. It was not only more expensive, but it was my worst year for onions due to everything you mentioned here. I also never pruned my onions until this year at either planting or mid-season when they tops got really tall, and what a big difference that made!

[@RachelCowan-pm9xo]

Something kept taking the onion bulb off the raised bed, ate off the tops and then would just leave it. I would pick it back up and put it back in its place but as long as I kept it above ground, it kept being taken out of the raised bed. Finally I covered the bulb with soil and maybe it’s just coincidental (the animal could’ve moved on to somewhere else) but it has not been touched and is finally thriving🤷‍♀️

[@rickthelian2215]

Buying onion sets online they usually sell them in 50 Bundles but giving you more in each bundle. You can use the pruning of your onions in salads or cooking.

[@debbietanner9172]

Thank you! I love the great info!!

[@joyceswansey8116]

Thank you for the information.

[@koltoncrane3099]

The channel garden like a Viking showed an interesting thing. He had one onion patch falling over on its own and then another onion patch that was half fallen over and so then he pushed the rest over. He showed the next early spring that the patch of onions that were all fallen down were then starting to sprout or have shoots on them whereas the onion patch that only had a few or half fallen down and then pushed them down that patch had like no sprouts or shoots coming off of them. Maybe there were other factors or variables that caused the difference but that’s one thing I’ve even seen with store bought onions. Sometimes they’ll give off sprouts or shoots in the spring even in the house. So that’s definitely something I’ve thought about is how to get onions so they don’t give off sprouts so you can still eat them in February or March.

[@odimarbatista3976]

Luke I’d have loved to see a video on planting the white of the onions and how you sow and germinate your onion seeds. Which actually brings the question. When you plant, as you say, the white of the onion, are you transplanting or can you sow it straight on the soil?

[@HomewardBound961]

I'm a grateful student. Thanks so much!

[@traceymap]

Clear easy to understand instructions I will be teaching it this way in my community garden. Houston

[@lydia5385]

Question- Luke you mentioned what to feed your onions. How often do you feed them? Once a month? Every 8 weeks. What’s a good feeding schedule? Thanks for the help, I appreciate your time!

[@lindseymoore9727]

Thanks so much for jam packed informational videos. I appreciate you and your wife so much!

[@lilolmecj]

I will comment again after, but I am looking forward to this. I had absolutely fabulous Leeks for years, but not a ton of luck with onions. Lol I tough some onion plants 15 months ago, they are a mystery to me…no bulb, huge healthy tops, went to seed, still there. Got them from the neighbors and next time I need to know the variety!

[@dannakuhr9718]

This was very helpful. Thanks!

[@jeannet9592]

Helpful information. Thank you!

[@angietalmage4986]

Thank you so much for all of this great information!!

[@stephanieflowers2783]

I just planted my very first onion 🧅 seeds!!!! Im going to over winter them in the greenhouse or put them in the ground under frost cover. I’m in GA 7b/8a so they should be good to go. I cannot wait!!!!! Onion sets have disappointed me the last 3 seasons so Im committed to growing them from seed.

[@lorrigierman7089]

Great tips as usual! I'm growing onions for the first time. Planning to sow them this fall (MI 5b) to harvest next summer. When do I plant my seedlings? September? October? Help!

[@sherylgordon9266]

I used the tops I had pruned like green onions. I washed and chopped and put in the freezer. They were awesome. I also replanted the trimmed root ends for green onions to use throughout the winter and spring.

[@brandonbatz3147]

Great video as always Luke! One comment to add for those of us in Pennsylvania area, be aware of allium leaf miner (ALM). Cover onions with insect netting at planting! They can destroy your onion crop. Been my arch nemesis last couple years.

[@XtremeChiliPepper]

Absolutely, from NEPA here. Two years in a row now, no onions. Squirrels didn't help either, but I will try again next year with more protection - tnx for the tip!

[@paolomaggi8188]

Thank you very much for these wonderful advices❤

[@UnderAPileOfScrap]

I wish I would have found your channel sooner! I planted the little onions last year (first timer) and I thought I did something wrong, but it sounds like I did it right, just wrong choice, since they went to seed quickly. I made the same mistake this year already, but might have time to fix in my zone5? Thank you for such valuable and simple explanations.

[@toliver1468]

Darn it. Newbie gardener here. I planted onions a month ago and planted them up to the neck. I’m probably too late, but I’m going to try removing the dirt and bringing them up to the surface. Hopefully they make it, but if not lesson learned. This is my experimental year

[@hikerlindacanadianrockies8478]

I had green onions at home, and at my farm plot. The ones at home looked normal, but the ones at the farm definitely grew a bulb, at least golf ball to small onion size.

[@Jonni8]

I received my onion seeds from you. I'm just not sure when to start planting. New gardener in zone 10A California

[@onebarranch709]

Thank you for the encouragement and confirmation for growing onions! This is the first year I have studied properly planting and growing onions, especially from your videos and I am happy to report success! I grow in stock tanks for raised beds in Calgary AB (Canada) and have been pruning my onions all season. I take those greens, slice them up and freeze-dry them for soups and sauces. Love your videos!

[@frankbarnwell____]

Many thanks Luke. I'm forming a new onion plan before Halloween; about the time I should start seeds in zone 9. A watering plan based on last year, doesn't work. Water using the weather, TODAY. LOL

[@rayvin357]

your pruning sounds like fun! --when i was 14 i worked on a farm thinning carrots for 4 hrs each day. Worse yet i cleaned the horse barn. Hows them apples.

[@Krisu1993]

Thank you very much❤

[@kele1264]

Wonderful onion video! Thanks for all the info, and myth-busting. Also, Walmart sells foam knee pads for just over $5 per pair. Don't ruin your knees!

[@JamesBond-qd5rc]

Thank you. I think I've pinpointed some mistakes I've made in growing onions by watching your presentation.

[@madisondennison9635]

Ok so here’s my question about growing onions! I live in central Texas, (but my in-laws live in Michigan too and I’m so jealous of your summer gardening weather). But here, we usually get the worst of our cold weather in February even though many sources say to plant seeds in October, I’m afraid the seedlings would die in February temperatures which I’ve seen get down to 9 degrees before. Although right now I have tons of tomatoes and temps are still in the 70’s at Christmas! Would you start seeds indoors now to transplant come March? You may not have any ideas but figured I would give the comments section a try! Someone’s gotta know!

[@brandynash1409]

I’m in south Arkansas and I plant my young slips out in late January/early February. We usually have 1 week of bitter cold around that time. I usually plant the next week. If my seeds were in the ground already, then they would be used to the temps and I wouldn’t worry. My garlic does just fine and I plant in November.

[@floydbertagnolli944]

Thank you! I’m taking notes so I can become a better gardener. 😊

[@gjsmimi4474]

I use the Trifecta Plus for everything 😊, now i also have your Bulb fertilizer (works great on my garlic and potatoes). Which would be better for onions? TIA!

[@ms.rickie]

That was the best video about onions. Great job.😊

[@debbielaney5097]

I finally got onions to grow this year. In previous years we had problems with onion maggots. I will try your suggestions including using seeds next year. Thank you for all the good information!

[@anniecochrane3359]

good tips thanks! I"ve never seen onion sets here in Aotearoa/NZ, rather if I dont raise from seed myself, I buy the seedlings which someone else has raised from seed, and then plant these small seedlings out. Hmm, I better have a look and make sure I have planted only the white part below ground with some I've just planted. I"ve only just started growing onions this past year or so and these tips are really useful.

[@dianelott6849]

Thank you thank you thank you ❤🎉😊

[@tamararoberts9307]

Thank you for sharing this video 😊 I have learned a few things about onions I didn't know before

[@denisesims7574]

HELP! I did plant from sets. The tops did fall over early from all the storms we had this year. Now I have onions that are not much bigger than I started with. Should I save these little onions for the spring or just use them? How do I save them to plant next spring if I were to save them? I have a raised bed that freezes hard over winter. I feel like they will just shrivel up to nothing if I store them in my basement on a wire rack. What do you suggest?

[@Saoirse.n.Murphy]

Hi Luke, thank you, thank you, thank you for these tips! Next season, zone 5b in the Berkshires, MA, will be our first attempt at growing onions. First season of garlic yielded well and we will be doing those again too! You got me started on my garden and we grow bigger every year! Peace

[@DanielleBlanchardArts]

Gonna try one more time and try from seed.

[@smuggafree]

Thanks for the tip. I will be trying that with my onion seeds.

[@1991macie]

First year planting onions and they got to a good size. I didn't prune them, but my 2yr old daughter did when she tried to pull them out.😊

[@suzannegriggs1011]

Thanks, Luke!

[@valtoton2982]

In so excited! I just received my onion seeds from MIGardener this week! I am studying all of your onion videos so can knock it out of the park with my onions next season!

[@MIgardener]

You got this! Happy gardening!!!

[@TroyBrinson]

This was very informative. I have a question that may seem silly, but do all of these tips apply to leeks as well? I’ve been growing them all summer and when I harvested them they still had a very well developed root system. They seemed to do well in tighter spacing and tasted great, but I wonder whether applying these tips would have the same effect. Thanks for your help.

[@jamiescountryliving]

Thank you. thank you Luke

[@kittencreates2785]

Thanks for all your great info, Luke. We planted onions in a raised bed this year. It's a southern exposure, but I think the bushes near it probably shaded them too much. I have to have raised beds on legs because I'm 70 and I can no longer bend to work in our garden. We also probably didn't water them enough. But we're leaving them in and will see what we get. We're in NE Ohio & I'm thinking any that are too small once we start to get cold will be covered with a layer of hay (or straw?) and left for the winter. We'll see what we get then. We have enjoyed eating the onion tops by adding them to soups and stews. AND...we'll try again next year, but in a different, very sunny location.

[@valjalava1951]

Well I learned a few things great video

[@sheribaioa7585]

I wish I had seen this video in March. I did everything wrong and felt like a failure. Thank you Luke for the info. I’ll buy seeds next year and prune!

[@bethstinebaugh6817]

I love pruning, onion greens are delicious 😊 Don't toss them out.

[@curtdunlap6818]

Thanks Luke. Do you mulch your onions? I tried mulching with grass clippings until calamity hit and I could no longer care for my garden this year. The onions and leeks that I did this to were super strong compared to the ones that remained unmulched, and the grass clippings kept most of the weed at bay as well! I never heard of mulching onions before, but thought I'd give it a try. Next year, I will have onions! 😊

[@rachelfessenden9127]

Wow that is AMAZING!! I have a freezer dryer but haven’t experimented much bc I don’t k ow what to do or how to rehydrate! Great video! Can’t wait for your book!!

[@CornPopPomade]

Onions freeze dry really well. You can’t really do it wrong. Just don’t stack them higher than the edge of the tray and you’re golden. Freeze dried onion powder makes a great seasoning.

[@AugustLeo1619]

Planning on growing onions next year. Can I grow onions and garlic in the same bed?

[@HeartandField]

I would avoid it. They'll compete with each other. Onions and carrots make good friends though.

[@IAMGiftbearer]

Several questions; 1) When will more of your onion varieties be back in stock? 2) Can they be started indoors and then transplanted, or do they do better direct sown? 3) How often should they be fertilized with Trifecta and do you just put it in each hole before planting or in the soil around them several times a year? 4) How much of the leaves should be pruned off; enough to leave 2 or 3 inches or should you take off less than that?

[@valtoton2982]

Luke did a great video on starting onions from seed! He answers all of this in detail. But, yes they can be transplanted, I believe they SHOULD be transplanted after thinning. Also I think he said to trim no more than 40%

[@IAMGiftbearer]

@@valtoton2982 It took me awhile but I found that video. Thanks. 🙂

[@lynnesuidinski1165]

Great questions. I am needing answers, too. Also, at what point are seedlings ready to transplant? I've only grown from sets before, but will be ordering seeds soon.

[@patrickcurran5524]

Thanks I am looking forward to growing more onions in the future. i only grew a half a dozen this year to see if I could. they turned out great but I know I will do more next year. When you prune the tops can you eat them as a garnish?

[@KathySarich]

My biggest problem would be onion maggots, took out all but two of my onions this year. 🙈 I’m screening them in next year to keep the flies off them. Lol!

[@ms.rickie]

Is it OK to use the bulbs that come in a mesh bag at the garden store? Or actually using seeds better.

[@debbiethompson9853]

LUKE-How much do you cut off of the onion tops?

[@PreppRD]

How far down do you prune the onions in July? Also my onion bed gets so crazy with weeds its the hardest one to keep up with in the garden! How thick of mulch could I put down?

[@ellenorbjornsdottir1166]

Do you have any advice for growing second year onions for the purpose of harvesting seeds? I have been growing from eating onions and I want it to send out seeds.

[@lidip8700]

So much information! I'm finally able to grow onions after watching your videos before planting this past spring. ->Luke, have you made a video on Jicamas? If so, i can't find it. I bought good quality seeds (from you), planted them at the end of May (I live in zone 5), in a 7 gal grow bag. They germinated, then the seedlings died. H.E.L.P. I plan to try again next spring with the seeds left from this year, I'll just plant more of them. But I really need more good information. Thanks so much for all your do!!

[@averagesavage8367]

did ya cover curing? I need to know how long to cure onions

[@korymiller4677]

Do you have tips for overwintering onions?

[@TheDresden89]

Great Content! very informative.

[@nbo304]

Luke, how did the commercial farm plant the onions? I am thinking that 200 cell will eliminate the need to separate the seedlings. Or is it going to stunt them instead?

[@lesliesmith7312]

Our onions sort of layed down sideways, they didn’t really crimp, just tipped over and grew across the ground