There are many vegetables that can be grown and eaten. But from these many, there are some of the vegetables that are considered necessary for most of the dishes and salads prepared in kitchens. These are live basic and important ingredients to these dishes and salads.
Onions are eaten raw and used in many salads. Around the world, raw onions have been used in many shapes and forms. Not only for eating purposes but also for medicinal purposes. There are a variety of uses for onions all over the world.
Due to these uses, you would already know that these onions are grown all over the world. People prefer it over the other alternatives used in the kitchen. Also, onions have many types of. every area has its own. Due to the particular qualities of each onion type, you might see these items are imported and exported over the borders and high seas.
After seeing the commercial scale and commercial agriculture of the onions you might think that the onions are difficult to grow and it is the game of pure agriculturists, it is not made for the gardeners. But this is not the case. You as a gardener and as a homesteader also can grow onions.
Even if you don’t have enough space, you still can go for the onion planting. You might wonder how it is possible. Then hold on. Yes, it is possible. It is because onions are very easy to grow and plant. You just need some glass jars, and a potting plant to make it grow.
That’s why you can also get the basic ingredient which is onion for your kitchen. Now you would have become curious about how it is possible and would be ready to learn it. It’s ok. Today we are going to tell you how to grow onions from scraps.
Why and how to grow onions?
First of all, onions are a great and basic ingredient in the kitchen. No other vegetable or substitute can replace the taste and flavor. You would be able to enjoy your homegrown onions in your kitchen easily.
Also, the onions are easy to grow. It is not the case that you need extra-large, space, and resources to make it grow. You just need to start and will see that you are able to secure a steady supply of onions for your kitchen.
You might wonder if you need onion seeds to grow them. It is very easy. You can also grow the onions from the scraps or from the other onions also. Onions are from the family of those vegetables that grow and propagate from the plants as well as from the seeds.
There are many other vegetables that also can grow from the scraps. You would have observed when you throw the leftovers or the scraps of the vegetables the in the compost some of them grow and shows that they have this ability.
Before you go to growing onions
It is good to know what class of onions you are going to plant. It’s better you should go for the research, and know what type of onions are suitable for the climate of your particular area. Then you would be better known to grow it seedily.
Types of onions
Naturally and originally onions are biennial. These have a life span of two years at if you have grown them from seeds. You will be able to grow these onions from their scraps as well
Onions are usually of two types. one is a long day and the other is short day onions. Short-day onions need 10 to 12 hours of daylight. These are sweeter in nature and are good to grow. They grow bulbs when they get 10 to 12 hours of sunlight in a day.
The same goes for the other ones. Long-day onions are the one that needs 14 to 16 hours of sunlight in a day to produce bulbs. These onions are good to be stored. Just make sure the availability of sunlight for the required time and you are good to go.
How to grow onions from scraps?
First of getting your onion to the cutting board. You will also need a sharp knife as well. If you are planning to grow the onions outside, you need to start it in the spring season. You can go for any type of onion, even if you have got them from the grocery store, it’s good.
Cut the bottom of the onion, making sure it is about 1 inch long to make it grow well. Leave the piece of onions that have been cut, for 12 to 24 hours. Place the bottom on a flat and dry surface. Let it dry, and then you would be able to grow it. You can use another part of the onion for the kitchen as well.
After 12 to 24 hours, you need to get 4 toothpicks. Poke toothpicks in the onion which has been cut. Make the x shape. In this way, you would be able to hold the onion in the jar or the pot easily.
Now hang the onion on the glass or jar of water. Hang it in a way that the only bottom part of the onion touches the upper surface of the water. Leave it in this position for 3 to 4 days in a sunny place. Exposure to sunlight will help onions grow faster.
Now the roots of the onions will start growing. When you observe the growth of white roots get ready to plant the onions in the pots. They will complete their further growth there.
Potting a scrap of onions
Get the pot. You don’t need such a deep pot. Rather just make sure it is 10 to 15 inches deep. Just make sure it is a well-drained pot. Because an excess of everything is bad. The excess water can cause water-logging for the onions.
Get the soil which also drains the water well. Make sure the soil is good potting or gardening soil. Fill the pot with the potting soil about half of it. The other half will be filled when you will go for the plantation of the scrap.
Planting the grown onion scrap in the pot
Spray some amount of water on the potting soil, to make it wet for the plantation of the onion scrap. Place the onion scrap in the middle of the pot. Fill the pot until 1 to 2 inches from the top of the pot are left.
You can go for more than one onion in one pot. It will help you to go easy. You would be able to get more and more onions from one pot. Water the onion cuttings soon after the plantation. It will help the onion scrap to adapt to the environment of the pot.
It is good to spray the nitrogen fertilizer on the onion planted because the onions grow well in high nitrogen settings. You can get the nitrogen spray from any of the nurseries or from the gardening store.
Taking care of the onions
The care of the onions is quite easy. It has been observed that gardeners are reluctant to try something new because they think we can go for the plant, but who will take care of it? Well, that’s easy.
Onions are not such difficult to take care of. You just need to follow the basic steps and you are good to go.
Watering is important for any plant or vegetable. Make sure you water the onions every week. Watering about 1 inch is enough. Make sure you don’t go for excess watering. It may cause problems for the onions, as it can cause root rot or waterlogging.
Check your onions every day. You should be able to take all of the weeds out. It is good to pluck the weeds rather than spraying any harsh herbicide. Check for pests. If there are some, go for plant-friendly pesticides after consulting local horticulturists.
You can add fertilizer to the onions. It is good for them. Onions love and grow in fertilizers with high nitrogen content. Use fertilizers when needed or after 3 to 4 weeks. Seeing the plant’s conditions, you would be able to know when to fertilize or not.
In short, you just need to select, cut, grow roots, and then plant the cuttings in the pots. It is good to grow onions because it is easy to take care of the onions no matter what class of onions are there. Moreover, you would be able to secure a good supply of food for the kitchen.
