Leslie Massey
Australian brown onions are a pungent and flavourful variety of onions with a thick, brown paper coating, making them excellent for storage. They are intermediate day onions that require 12 to 14 hours of sunlight to form bulbs. To grow Australian brown onions, it is important to choose the appropriate variety for your climate and time of year. They can be grown from seeds or sets, which are small onion bulbs. The seeds should be sown generously and directly into the ground in August, or started indoors in late April to early May and transplanted outdoors in August. Onion seeds should be sown 6-12mm deep and spaced 10-15cm apart in rows 20 to 30cm apart. They will take six to eight months to mature and are ready to harvest when the tops start to dry and fall over.
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What You'll Learn
Australian brown onion seeds should be sown 5-6mm deep
When sowing Australian brown onion seeds, it is important to ensure that they are not planted too deeply, as this will prevent them from growing properly. The ideal depth for sowing Australian brown onion seeds is between 5 and 6 mm deep. This allows the seeds to receive the necessary amount of water and nutrients from the soil while also providing enough space for the seedlings to emerge and grow.
To achieve the recommended sowing depth, you can use a seed-raising mix to cover the seeds lightly. Keep the seeds damp in a sunny spot, and they will begin to grow. It is important to note that the seeds should not be sown too early, as this may cause the onions to bolt to seed.
Once the seedlings have reached a height of 10 to 12 cm, they can be transplanted into the garden or pots. In the garden, space the seedlings 10 cm apart, following the recommended spacing guidelines. For pot planting, choose a pot that is at least 500 mm wide and 300 mm deep, and position it in full sun.
By following these guidelines for sowing depth, sunlight exposure, and spacing, you can create optimal conditions for your Australian brown onion seeds to thrive and develop into healthy onion plants.
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Transplant seedlings 10cm apart
Transplanting seedlings is an important step in growing Australian brown onions. When the seedlings are 10-12 cm tall, they should be thinned out and transplanted with a spacing of 10 cm between each seedling to give them room to grow. This step can be done in the first half of August. It is important to note that onion seeds should only be sown 6 mm deep, as planting them too deeply will hinder their growth.
Before transplanting, prepare the garden bed by making a shallow trough in the soil. The seedlings should be laid on the ground, with their roots covered by soil. They will right themselves in a few days. It is recommended to use a quality potting mix, such as Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter, when transplanting into pots. Water the transplanted seedlings well and feed them every couple of weeks with liquid plant food to promote healthy growth.
Australian brown onions require full sun and fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0. Sandy loam soils are ideal, and raised beds or rows are suggested for heavier soils to enhance drainage. The onions will take around six to eight months to mature and are ready to harvest when the tops start to dry and fall over. Pull them out and leave them in the sun for a few days to dry before storing them in a cool, dry, and airy place.
Onions are shallow-rooted and require adequate water, especially during the bulbing phase. They are susceptible to thrips, tiny insects that feed on new leaves, so keep the area weed-free and water at the roots to prevent infestations. Australian brown onions are intermediate-day onions, requiring 12 to 14 hours of sunlight daily to form bulbs.
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Harvest in 25-34 weeks
Harvesting your Australian brown onions is the most rewarding part of the process. You will know your onions are ready to harvest when the leaves wilt and fall over. They will take around six to eight months to mature, and you will need to pull them out and leave them in the sun to dry for a few days. They should be stored in a cool, dry, airy place. You can use a net bag or make a string by weaving the tops together.
Onions can be harvested at different stages of growth. You don't have to wait for all the bulbs to be full-sized before you harvest them. You can pick and use smaller bulbs and leave the rest to grow bigger.
If you are growing onions in a temperate climate, they will be ready to harvest in 25-34 weeks. In short-season areas, sow seeds indoors in late August to mid-September. Transplant to the garden 10cm apart. You can also sow five seeds in each cell of 25-38mm diameter plug trays, thinning to three per cell. Transplant each cell 15cm apart.
Onions require full sun and fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0. Sandy loam soils are ideal, and raised beds or raised rows are recommended for heavier soils to promote soil drainage.
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Onions need full sun and well-drained soil
Onions are a good winter crop for home gardeners and can be grown year-round in most frost-free areas. They require full sun and fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 5.5 to 7. Sandy loam soils are ideal, and raised beds or raised rows are recommended for heavier soils to promote soil drainage.
Before planting, work the soil to a depth of at least 8 inches in a sunny area of your garden. Choose an area with mildly acidic soil, as day onions prefer a pH of 5.5 to 7. If you don't know your soil's pH, you can buy a home tester from a garden centre. If your soil does not fit into the desired pH range, plant the onions in a raised bed filled with appropriately acidic soil.
Onions are shallow-rooted and grow best with at least 25mm of rain or irrigation per week, especially during the bulbing phase. They should be kept well-weeded with shallow cultivation. To promote adequate air circulation and reduce the risk of foliar disease, use crop rotation.
Onions are ready to harvest in six to eight months when the leaves dry and fall over. Pull them out and leave them in the sun for a few days to dry. After drying, they can be stored in a cool, dry, airy place.
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Store in a cool, dry place
Once your onions are ready to harvest, you should gently pull them out of the ground. The bulbs should then be left to dry for a few days in the sun. You can tell when they are ready to be pulled out when the leaves dry and fall over.
After drying, the onions should be stored in a cool, dry, and airy place. They can be kept in wire baskets or mesh bags. It is important that the temperature does not exceed 68 degrees Fahrenheit, or the onions will sprout. Brown onions can be stored for up to six months.
Onions require a well-ventilated area to reduce the risk of foliar disease. They should be stored in a dry place, as damp conditions can cause downy mildew, which is difficult to control.
Brown onions are a great option for storage because they have a thick, brown paper coating. They are also strong-flavoured and pungent, which are desirable qualities in bulb onions.
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