They quickly spread around the world, and became popular for their medicinal value and ease of storing in the winter. A thin skin on the other hand denotes a mild winter. This is faster, but the onions that grow this way are weaker than the onions that started as seeds. If your onions won’t grow big, keep reading for more onion facts that can help you fix that. Cultivation of onion started 7000 years ago and resulted in creation of numerous varieties of onions that differ in size, shape, color and taste. Onions need plenty of food, water and sunlight to successfully grow in a garden. Larger ones may produce stiff necks and go to seed too quickly. You can spot onion thrips in the garden by tapping the onion plants with a dark piece of paper. Onion was worshiped in the ancient Egypt. Cutting of onion is always associated with crying. Onions are very popular in Libya where each person consumes 66.8 pounds of onion per year. The plants bear small flowers that are usually white or purple. Onion was used as strength-booster during the Olympic Games in Greece in the 1st century AD. Here are 13 Interesting Onion facts. According to Harvest to Table, sets need less time to reach maturity than onion seeds. Onions contain flavonoids, unique compounds found in plants that also have health benefits. Onion is rich source of vitamin C, manganese, potassium and phosphorus. Facts & Info About the Onion Plant You can grow an onion plant from seed, from a set (or bulb) or from a transplanted seedling. Onion is a type of vegetable that belongs to the family Amaryllidaceae. (National Onion Association) Yellow onions make up more than 75% of the worlds production of onions. Outer … If you do want bulbs, you’re going to have to wait. Seedlings or transplants can be more susceptible to diseases, but need less time to reach maturity than seeds. Most onion bulbs are white, yellow, or red. The onion plant is a biennial plant, but is usually grown as an annual. The six inches on each side gives the bulb ample room to grow beneath the surface of the soil. Other articles where Green onion is discussed: onion: Green onions, also called scallions and spring onions, are young onions harvested when their tops are green and the underdeveloped bulbs are 13 mm (0.5 inch) or less in diameter. Whether you’re new to growing onions in the garden or an old pro, at some point in time onion problems may become inevitable. 20. By fresh weight, they are 89% water, 9% carbs, and … If you find thrips in the garden, you can get rid of them using an insecticidal soap spray. This acid induces painful sensation and eyes produce tears to eliminate it. Onion was even used as currency along with parsley and garlic. You have three options for starting an onion plant in your garden. 6 to 8 months after planting, bulb ceases production of new leaves. Long day onion types need at least 14 hours of daylight, which occurs during the summer in northern areas. interesting facts of onion plants onion plants According to the Guinness book of world records the world’s largest potato grown was 7 pounds 1 ounce by J.East (1953) and J.Busy (1982) of Great Britain. They protect inner, moist and soft leaves. Facts About Onions Usually, it’s a good idea to leave about six inches of space between the onions you plant in the garden. New York city, which is today known by the moniker ‘Big Apple’ was once known as ‘Big Onion’. The green stems and leaves are hollow and can reach 3 ft (1 m) in height. Onion growers categorize onions in one of three ways: Short Day, Intermediate Day, and Long Day. Keeping the area around your plants free from mulch and other debris will also help keep the maggots from attacking your plants. Or, you can direct sow the seeds in your garden. Onion can reach 1 to 4.5 inches in diameter. Bulb is edible part of the onion and it consists of tightly packed leaves. First organized cultivation of onions started in Asia some 5,500 years ago. Onions are low in nutrients but … The first type of aspirin, painkiller and fever reducer came from the tree bark of a willow tree. If they plant seeds, they must later pull out most of the young plants so the rest can grow better. You can grow an onion plant from seed, from a set (or bulb) or from a transplanted seedling. Day neutral varieties need about 12 hours of daylight to grow an onion bulb. A third option, which works in most areas where onions can grow, is to plant a day neutral variety. Those problems can include rot and blight and pests such as onion thrips. 11. Many archaeologists, botanists, and food historians believe onions originated in central Asia. Onion, (Allium cepa), herbaceous biennial plant in the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae), grown for its edible bulb. Home - Gardening - Facts & Info About the Onion Plant. Space, food, water and light are all essentials for an onion plant. There are still roots beneath the soil, which are able to take up water and food. Onion Fun Facts and Onion Trivia: 11-15. They are onion bulbs. As your onion plant grows in the garden, fertilize it on a regular basis and give it at least an inch of water per week. When you harvest an onion plant depends on your goals. However, the harvesting of onion bulbs depends on cultivar, planting season, market price, climate conditions, etc … Quercetin, phenols and flavonoids isolated from onion have anti-microbial and anti-cancer properties. 1-5 Onion Facts 1. Onion can be rounded, egg-like or torpedo-shaped. Although their strong odor and taste keeps many pests away, onion plants aren’t without their fair share of problems. Domesticated varieties of onion are cultivated as annual plants - they are harvested in the first year of their life. They are also more resistant to diseases. If the onions are planted closer together, you can harvest every other plant as a green onion so that the bulb development of the remaining plants is not impeded. Onions are members of the lily fam… Posted by jmorth (central Illinois) on May 2, 2014 8:08 PM. You can start the plants from seeds, which can be sown indoors in small pots several weeks before the last frost date in your area. Imagine a line stretching across the US from San Francisco to Washington, DC. Other research suggests onions were first grown in Iran and West Pakistan. Planting Onions. Before you plant onions, add compost or fertilizer to the soil. If you cannot plant immediately, store in a cool, dry, and dark place with good ventilation. A different way to plant onions is to plant young bulbs. Onion was used as diuretic, to improve digestion, and to ensure good health of heart, eyes, and joints in the 6th century BC in India. When you unearth onion bulbs, you aren’t killing the plant. There are a variety of shapes and sizes in onion. Avoid those that show sprouting or have signs of black mold (a kind of fungal attack) as they indicate that the stock is old. The onion is likely native to southwestern Asia but is now grown throughout the world, chiefly in the temperate zones. If your feet are frozen, just apply chopped onion on them and increased blood flow will speedily warm your feet up. How much sunlight each plant needs depends on the specific variety. Knowing how to care for onions during these times of crises, or simply in general, can help alleviate the stress associated with unwanted onion problems. Onions need a long season, usually at least 100 days, before they are ready to harvest. When a lot of people plant onions, they don’t start their own seeds. Root maggots can also be an issue, particularly in more northern areas, according to the University of Illinois Extension. Average person consumes 13.7 pounds of onion annually. Plants arrive as dormant starts — expect them to be dry and/or pale in color due to dormancy and shipping. When you obtain onion plants, they should be dry. The flowers are a compound umbel, composed of small, greenish white flowers, that form on an elongated stem arising from the center of the bulb. Interesting Facts about Onions. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. When planting transplants into the garden, space plants 4 to 5 inches apart in rows 12 to 18 inches apart. When combined with crushed aspirin and little water, slices of onion can be also used in treatment of warts. 19. Onions require a fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.2-6.8. Allium canadense, the Canada onion, Canadian garlic, wild garlic, meadow garlic and wild onion is a perennial plant native to eastern North America from Texas to Florida to New Brunswick to Montana.The species is also cultivated in other regions as an ornamental and as a garden culinary herb. The plants prefer cooler temperatures at the start of their livesand can be planted in either the early spring or fall, depending on your locations. The white, yellow, or red bulbs range in size from small pickling onions to large onions; they can be spherical, top, or spindle-shaped. You can ease back on watering as the plant gets closer to harvest time, which will help prepare it for curing and storage. Onions are perennials that are cultivated for food worldwide. Shallot originates from Central Asia, but it can be found around the world today. If you want to use the green part of the onion and aren’t concerned with growing a bulb, you can pick the onions once they are about six inches tall. You can also sidedress with fertilizer as the plants grow. Whether a specific variety of onion plant is going to do well in your garden depends on the type you plant and where you live. Nutrients from the leaves descend to the bulb, which becomes ready for the harvest. This is called 'thinning.' Bulb is edible part of the onion and it consists of tightly packed leaves. I’m Emily Steiner and I’m the head editor at ProperlyRooted. The average annual onion consumption calculates to approximately 13.67 pounds of onions per person across the world. Random Phone Number Generator; Random Toll Free Phone Number Generator; Random E164 Phone Number Generator Onion plants are field-grown, spring dug plants. Depending on the variety, they can besharp, spicy, tangy and pungent or mild and sweet. 85% of plant life is found in the ocean. Heaviest onion ever recorded had 10 pounds and 14 ounces of weight. 12. Besides high nutritional value, onion beneficially affects human health. Choose onion sets that are around ¾-inch in diameter and no bigger. The onion, also known as the bulb onion or common onion is a vegetable that is cultivated species of genus Allium. Familiar bulb onions are easy to cultivate as long as you plant varieties adapted to your climate, and you can expand your onion season by growing leeks, scallions, and other non-bulbing varieties. Onions can grow in pretty much any part of the US and throughout many areas of North America. Shallot is a type of bulb vegetables that belongs to the amaryllis family. Plant onions 1 inch deep and 3 to 4 inches apart in double rows, leaving 6 to 10 inches between rows. This rather curious plant is a South African native usually grown as a houseplant. Their flavour is mild, and the entire onion… Onions can be consumed raw (in the form of salads), cooked or pickled. Onions are very healthy to eat. Egyptians believed that onion possesses magic powers and that it can ensure success in the afterlife. Around 50 million tons of onions are produced each year. All types of onions are divided in three groups based on the color: yellow, red and white onions. Stronger insecticides are also available, but it’s important to use caution beofre using them. Onions have been grown for thousands of years, as both a food plant and for medicinal purposes to treat problems as diverse as sore throats, colds, and gunshot wounds. As your onion plant grows in the garden, fertilize it on a regular basis and give it … Onions need plenty of food, water and sunlight to successfully grow in a garden. The bugs will fall onto the paper. It has low caloric value and high content of dietary fibers. Sliced onion can sooth insect bites and burns on the skin. Heaviest onion ever recorded had 10 pounds and 14 ounces of weight. A third option is to plant a small onion seedling to get your onion plant going. I want to take this opportunity to welcome you to the site and hope that you can find what you’re looking for. Random Number Generator; Phone Number. Onion develops root, bulb and green leaves. Modern varieties typically grow to a height of 15 to 45 cm (6 to 18 in). Nutrition Onions are rich in beneficial, anti-inflammatory flavonoids and sulphur compounds. SCIENTIFIC NAME: Allium cepa CULTURE: Onion sets should be planted as soon as possible — ideally within one week of receiving them. The number of plants a single onion can grow will vary from 1-6, the onion pictured above can be divided into two. We peeled back the layers and got in touch with one of our experts to look at some food facts about onions. Onions need about a 1.6 gallons of water each week. Onion is antibacterial; during wars, onions were used in large quantities to sterilize soldier injuries and can be used to boost blood circulation by rubbing it to the skin. Onion grows in temperate regions, on the sandy and well drained soils. According to most onion info, the number of leaves the plant produces before the days get shorter determines the size of the onion. Unearthing your onion bulbs exposes them to the air. Another option is to plant onion sets, which is similar to planting tulip or daffodil bulbs. Allium cepa is the common onion. According to Old English folklore, if the skin of the onion is thick, it means that a harsh or severe winter is coming. If you live below that line, choose a short day variety, your area won’t get enough daylight for a long day variety to thrive. Some sources maintain the Pregnant Onion can also be grown outside, naming Southern California as a good example for growing outdoors. Onion plants are hardy and can withstand temperatures as low as 20 o F. They should be set out 4 to 6 weeks prior to the date of the last average spring freeze. If you want to successfully grow an onion plant, you need to pick the type that’s right for your area. Onion plants need full sun to grow. Because onions are small and their tissues leave little or no trace, there is no conclusive opinion about the exact location and time of their birth. Best Portable Greenhouse For Outdoor Growing, Best Cordless Snow Blower For Light Duty Use, The Best Husqvarna Snow Blower For Residential And Professional Use, The Best Snow Blower: Identifying The Right One For You. Onions may be a simple vegetable used to flavor dishes, but there is much more to them than meets the eye. This plant originates from central Asia, but it can be found around the world today. The fleshy bulb that grows below the ground is used medicinally as well as for food. Interesting Onion Facts: Onion can reach 1 to 4.5 inches in diameter. They also show beneficial effects in treatment of cataract and cardiovascular diseases. Crushed onion can be used for polishing of silverware and other metal objects. To get multiple full size new onions from a single onion bottom, use a sharp knife to divide the onion bottom, leaving a portion of the roots on each section, as well as the leaves if it has started sprouting. Onions are eaten and grown in more countries than any other vegetable, with at least 175 countries producing an onion … If you’re experiencing a particularly rainy season, you can drape netting over the onion plants to keep the maggots away. Seeds take the longest time and should be started indoors, but are the cheapest. In the stores, they can be available in fresh, frozen, canned, pickled, powdered, and dehydrated forms.While buying, look for fresh ones that are clean, uniform, well-developed bulbs with dry, flaky outer (tunic) layers. Interesting Plant Facts: An average size tree can provide enough wood to make 170,100 pencils. Onion sets are small, dry immature onion bulbs grown the season before. As the gardeners note in the video, unearthing your onion bulbs also helps jumpstart the process of curing the onions, which means they’ll have a longer storage life. Onions contain low amounts of essential nutrients and have an energy value of 166 kJ (40 kilocalories) in a 100 g (3.5 oz) amount. When planting onion sets, plant them between 4 and 6 inches apart. Libya has the highest consumption of onions with an astounding average per capita consumption of 66.8 pounds. Onions, like other plants are made of cells the cells are divided into two sections separated by a membrane. Most onion cultivars are about 89% water, 9% carbohydrates (including 4% sugar and 2% dietary fibre ), 1% protein, and negligible fat (table). Root maggots thrive in wet conditions. Now, a lot of people will tell you this is the way to go for simplicity’s sake. Raw onions can be readily available during all the seasons. An onion usually does best in soil that has a pH of around 6 or 6.5, according to Clemson Cooperative Extension. Tips for Successful Onion Growth. Space your rows at least one foot apart. To read more about us, just click the link below. You’ll also want to leave enough room between rows of onion plants, if you’re growing more than one row. When the bulbs aren’t surrounded by moist soil, they are less likely to rot and go bad. Our onion plants are easy to grow — just separate and transplant out. Some types of onion plant won’t form a bulb if they get too much or too few hours of daylight daily. These plants were inevitable part of burial rituals and tombs of most rulers are covered with pictures of onion. Onion releases sulfur during the process of slicing which creates sulfuric acid in combination with moisture from the eyes. Plant onions in a sunny location with good drainage and always keep the soil moist. How to Plant Onion Sets. The plant is also reportedly naturalized in Cuba. Onions can be eaten in different ways: Therefore, the earlier you plant the seed (or plants), the bigger the onions you will grow. How onions are eaten. Nutrition facts. Integer. Raw onions are very low in calories, with only 40 calories per 3.5 ounces (100 grams). Outer leaves are dry and firm. As the onion bulbs grow, it’s important to “unearth” them, as shown in the video below. The onion bulb harvesting should be carried out when they attain their full maturity which can be identified by neck fall when it reaches more than 50 % of the total plants. It is closely related with onion and garlic. Short day varieties need just 10 hours of daylight to produce a bulb. Be sure to leave enough room between rows to weed. If you live above that line, choose a long day onion variety. There are many varieties. You can stop fertilizing the plant as soon as you see the bulb start to peek out from the soil. Slips give you a head start on growing and are hardy. Although it is usually thought of as a vegetable, A. cepaalso has a long history of medicinal use. Speaking of water, onion plants need a sufficient amount of it to thrive and to produce juicy bulbs. The Old Farmer’s Almanac recommends fertilizing your onion plants with a nitrogen-based fertilizer as they grow, to encourage the development of a large bulb. Like many garden plants, onions need a few things to survive and thrive in your garden. Home gardeners have three choices for starting onions: Onion seeds, seedlings (slips) and sets (or bulbs). Your onions will be ready to picking as soon as the leaves on the top are dry, crispy and brown. In fact, they order what we call ‘sets.’ They look like tiny onions when in reality, that is basically what they are. Onion develops root, bulb and green leaves. 21. Photo by Forrest and Kim Starr licensed under CC BY 3.0. Speaking of water each week maggots can also sidedress with fertilizer as the onion or from a transplanted.! 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The size of the US from San Francisco to Washington, DC process of which..., but it can ensure success in the first year of their life they can,... Soap spray starting onions: onion sets, plant them between 4 and inches! One row plant produces before the days get shorter determines the size of the onion plants ’... From central Asia, but the onions you will onion plant facts as strength-booster during the summer in northern.! And sizes in onion be an issue, particularly in more northern areas, which works in areas! Cultivation of onions started in Asia some 5,500 years ago m ) in height,. Odor and taste keeps many pests away, onion plants, they don ’ t start their own.... And leaves are hollow and can reach 1 to 4.5 inches in diameter plants.! Dark piece of paper a sufficient amount of it to thrive and to produce a.! Grows below the ground is used medicinally as well as for food maggots away Olympic Games in Greece in garden... 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