How to Plant Onions

Welcome to Homegrown/Homemade, a video series from FineGardening.com and our sister site FineCooking.com. We'll be following a gardener (Danielle Sherry) and a cook (Sarah Breckenridge) as they plant, maintain, harvest, store, and prepare food crops.

Episode 1: How to Plant Onions
Onions have a reputation for being hard to grow, so here are some tips to help. Onions can be started from seed or from sets (tiny bulbets). With seeds you have more choice of varieties, and you can choose varieties that are suited to your region. (In the North, plant long-season onions in the spring; in the South, short season onions, planted in the fall, are best.)

Start your seeds, transplant into larger cells, and before planting out, harden them off by putting the pots outside for several days. In the garden, onion plants should be spaced 4 to 6 inches apart in the row, with rows 1 to 2 feet apart. Plant each one about 1/2 inch deep in a small hole. After planting, trim the tops to about 4 inches.

Onions need about 1 inch of water per week, so if the weather is dry, you'll need to water.

Episode 2: How to Care for Onion Plants
As the onions grow, the bulbs enlarge, and when that happens, it's time to "unearth". You simply move the soil away from the tops of the bulbs. Exposure to the air helps the papery skin firm up, preventing rot. Leave only the lowest part of the bulb in contact with the earth.

Episode 3: How to Harvest and Cure Onions
Onions need a long growing season. Plan on harvesting toward the end of summer. It's easy enough to harvest them by pulling them out of the ground. The most important thing is to cure the bulbs, which means allowing them to air-dry for about a month with their tops on. Spread the bulbs evenly on trays or screens and allow them to air-dry in a cool, dry spot. Then cut off the tops (leaving an inch or so behind), brush off any dirt, and store until you're ready to use them.

Episode 4: How to Preserve Onions: Caramelized Onions
Sometimes onions don't cure properly and begin to spoil. If that happens, don't despair; the good parts can be salvaged and turned into caramelized onions, which can be preserved in the fridge or freezer for use later. Sarah shows Danielle how to cut onions into uniform slices (and also the right way to dice onions), then cook them slowly in oil until they turn golden brown. One way to use caramelized onions is to make a quick and delicious French onion soup.

Recipe: Roasted Onions Stuffed with Prosciutto and Parmesan
Onions star in this satisfying dish. Slice off the top and bottom of the onions, then peel. Saute in oil until soft, then remove the core, and stuff with a mix of prosciutto, parmesan, cream, and herbs. Bake.

Get the recipe on FineCooking.com...