5 effective tips for growing big onions at home
Do you also want your home garden to produce such onions that even your neighbors ask, “Where did you get these from?” If yes, then this article is for you.
Before knowing the 5 tips to grow bigger onions at home, we must understand that onions do not grow bigger just by sowing seeds in the soil. It requires the right information, care, and a little smart gardening.
Today, we will tell you 5 secret tips for growing onions following which you can grow thick and juicy onions like the market ones in your home too.
Onion Farming Vs Growing Onion At Home
Most people think that onion cultivation can be done only in the fields. But the truth is that if you have just a few big pots and a little sunlight, you can grow a wonderful crop of onions at home, too.
Onions in the fields get open soil, a large space, and heavy irrigation. At home, we have to work with limited resources, like containers, organic manure, and limited sunlight.
That’s why you need some special tips that will help you grow big onions even on a small scale.
Tip 1: Choose the right variety
Not all onions are the same. If you want to grow large onions at home, it is very important to choose the right variety.
Best varieties suitable for home gardening:
Pusa Red (ideal for Indian hot climate)
Yellow Sweet Spanish (famous for large size and sweet taste)
Red Creole (grows best in pots)
Pro Tip: Buy seeds from a well-reputed verified nursery so that you get the right variety according to the season.
Tip 2: Understand the length of the day
Very few people know that the growth of onions depends on the length of the day.
Onions are divided into three categories:
Short-day onions: These grow well in areas where days are 10-12 hours long (like in winters in North India).
Intermediate-day onions: Need 12-14 hours of light. This is ideal in many parts of India.
Long-day onions: Need 14+ hours of sunlight – these are suitable for most of North America/Europe.
To grow onions at home, choose only Short-day or Intermediate-day varieties, so that your onions can form bulbs properly.
Tip 3: Soil preparation and nutrition
Onions prefer soft, well-drained soil and rich in organic matter. If the soil is too hard, the bulbs will remain small.
How to prepare the soil:
40% garden soil.
30% cow dung or compost manure.
20% sand (to improve irrigation and drainage).
10% vermicompost or bone meal (for phosphorus and potassium).
Vital Nutrients:
Nitrogen (N): For initial leaf growth.
Phosphorus (P): for root and bulb development.
Potassium (K): For thick and strong onions.
It is beneficial to give organic liquid fertilizer (like Panchagavya or Jeevamrit) once every 15 days.
Tip 4: Irrigation and sunlight – balance is important
Overwatering and underwatering both affect the growth of onions.
How to irrigate correctly?
Immediately after planting the saplings, light irrigation every two days.
Once the plant reaches 6 inches, water twice a week.
At the time of bulb formation, reduce watering a little so that the onions become hard.
The role of sunlight:
Onions need at least 6-7 hours of sunlight.
Onions grow weak and thin in shade or excessively wet areas.
If your balcony or terrace does not get sunlight throughout the day, you can keep the onions in a container and shift them according to the sunlight.
Tip 5: Timely harvesting and storage
Onions grow big only when they get enough time to develop bulbs.
When should to recognize that onions are ready for harvesting?
When the upper leaves turn yellow and start to droop.
A little onion started appearing out of the soil.
About 100-120 days after transplanting.
Post-Harvest Storage Tips:
After cutting the onions, let them dry in the sun for 3-4 days.
Then store in a cool, ventilated place.
Before storage, cut off the top dry leaves, but leave a little neck.
Properly stored onions do not spoil for 3-4 months.
From my experience – a bonus tip
When I first started growing onions, the biggest mistake I made was planting the seeds too close together.
Onions require space; the more space, the larger the bulb. Now I keep at least 4-6 inches between each onion. The difference is obvious! Even if you are growing from seedlings, maintain this distance while planting.
Conclusion: Growing big onions is not hard work; it is a smart thing to do
Now that you have read 5 tips to grow bigger onions at home, believe me, you too can grow big and tasty onions at home.
Smart Gardening Formula:
1. Choose the right variety.
2. Take care of the soil and nutrition.
3. Understand the length of the day.
4. Maintain a balance between sunlight and water.
5. Harvest at the right time.
And most importantly – be patient. Because nature does its work in time.
If you liked this article, then definitely share it with your gardening-loving friends. And if you have any other unique way of growing onions, then do tell us in the comments!