Botanical name | Allium cepa |
---|---|
Plant Care |
![]() Deciduous
Deciduous – Sheds Its Leaves Annually ![]() Full Sun
Full Sun – Prefers 6 or more hours of sun per day. ![]() Semi Frost Hardy
Semi Frost Hardy – Is Able to Survive Moderately Low Temperatures. ![]() Moderate Watering
Moderate Watering – Requires Regular Watering. ![]() Non Indigenous
Non Indigenous – Exotic to South Africa. |
Size | |
Categories | |
Common name(s) | Onions |
Origin | |
Planting instructions | Sow seeds for bulb onions in trays, a seedbed or in the open. Cover with 60mm of fine soil after sowing.Seedlings emerge within 10 to14 days.Do not plant seedlings too deep.Space bulb onions 70mm apart in rows. |
Soil conditions | It thrives in sandy loam soil, well dressed with compost and manure. |
Uses | Onions are used, raw or cooked, in soups, stews, meat, poultry dishes, and in salads. |
Interesting planting ideas | Plant onions under apple trees, it will keep apple scab away. |
Interesting info | Bulb onions are a winter crop. |
Propagation | Propagate by seed, sow seed in trays and transplant 70 mm apart when seedlings are about 60 mm high. |
Common pests and diseases | Pests: Thrips.Diseases include mildew (during wet weather), pink rot, storage rot. |
Harvest | Bulb onions take six to eight months to mature. The bulbs are ready to pull when the leaf tops dry out and fall over. Store harvested bulbs in a well-ventilated, dry place. One 5m-row of bulb onions should yield enough for a family of four. Sow every four weeks in season. |
Allium cepa (Onions)
- Botanical name: Allium cepa
- Common name(s): Onions
- Categories: Fruits and Vegetables
Plant description:
There are two types of onions: bulb onions, which come in various shapes, sizes and colours, and are used, raw or cooked, in dishes and salads; and spring onions (also called green onions or scallions), which are grown for their leaves and white stems and used mainly in salads and in Oriental cuisine.
Family: Alliaceae
Synonym: Allium ascalonicum
Botanical Pronunciation: AL-ee-um KEP-uh
Allium cepa requirements and features

Moderate Maintenance
Requires moderate maintenance.