Carrot
Everything you need to know to grow carrots from sowing seed right through to harvesting the roots.
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They may make you cry, but onions are worth the tears! They can impart such a sweet or savoury flavour to your dishes, depending on how they’re cooked or used. There are many varieties, too – brown, gold, red and white – each with their own unique taste.
Before planting, check your climate zone to see which varieties are best for growing in your area.
How to grow onions in a garden
- Choose a spot that receives plenty of sun. Prior to planting, improve your soil by digging in Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed.
- Dig a narrow furrow, sow seeds and cover lightly with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix. Onion seeds only need to be sown 6mm deep, so don’t be tempted to plant them too deeply otherwise they won’t be able to grow. Firm down and keep moist.
- Once seedlings are 10-12cm tall, thin them out to 10cm spacings to give them room to grow. Don’t waste the onions you thin out – they can be used like spring onions!
- Feed every couple of weeks with Yates Thrive Natural Fish Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate to help cultivate good, healthy growth.
- Harvest when the leaves wilt and fall over. Gently pull the onion out of the ground, cut the leaves off a few centimetres above the bulb and then leave them in a warm sunny spot to dry out. Once the skins and roots are dry, they can be stored in wire baskets and mesh bags in a cool dry spot.
How to grow onions in a pot
Onions can be grown in pots, but you will need to grow few plants to make it worth your while. Consider growing them in small separate pots or one large container.
- Choose a pot at least 500mm wide and 300mm deep and position in full sun.
- Fill starter trays with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix, sow seeds and lightly cover. Onion seeds only need to be sown 6mm deep, so don’t be tempted to plant them too deeply otherwise they won’t be able to grow. Firm down and keep moist.
- Once seedlings reach 10cm tall, fill chosen pots with quality potting mix, such as Yates Premium Potting Mix. Transplant seedling into pot, spacing 10cm apart and water in well with Yates Thrive Natural Fish Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate.
- Feed every couple of weeks with Yates Thrive Natural Fish Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate to help cultivate good, healthy growth.
Growing tips
You don’t have to wait for all the onion bulbs to be full sized before you harvest them. You can pick and use smaller bulbs and leave the rest to grow bigger.
Onions may go to seed if they are not planted at the right time of the year, so make sure you check the label before planting so you don’t spoil your crop!
More Plants
Broccoli
Broccoli is a must-have vegie in your winter garden! Here's how to grow broccoli in the garden or in pots.
Asian Greens
Asian greens are easy to grow and even easier to cook with! Here's how to grow a mix of Asian greens in the garden or in pots.
Cabbage
There are so many uses for the humble cabbage. Here's how to grow cabbage in the garden or in pots.
Recommended products
Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed
A certified organic garden input boosted with NZ Seaweed to gently nourish plants, enrich the soil and encourage a strong healthy root system.
Yates Thrive Natural Fish & Seaweed+ Plant Food Concentrate
A complete plant food enriched with natural fish, seaweed, humates, molasses and more - boosted with NPK to improve plant and soil vitality.
Yates Premium Potting Mix
A premium potting mix, ideal for all potted plants and shrubs, including ornamentals, fruit trees, vegies and herbs.
Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix
Specially formulated for trouble-free seed raising in trays (or outdoor seed sowing direclty into the ground) and propagation of cuttings.
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