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

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Evergreen

Never Sheds All of Its Foliage.

Semi Deciduous

Sheds Part of Its Foliage During Winter/Autumn.

Deciduous

Sheds Its Leaves Annually

Full Sun

Prefers 6 or more hours of sun per day.

Half Sun

Prefers 3 To 6 Hours of Sunlight a Day.

Shade

Prefers Low Light Levels.

Frost Hardy

Can Handle frost without damage.

Semi Frost Hardy

Is Able to Survive Moderately Low Temperatures.

Frost Sensitive

Will Get Damaged and Possibly Killed During Periods of Frost.

High Watering

Requires Frequent Watering.

Moderate Watering

Requires Regular Watering.

Low Watering

Requires Little Water.

High Maintenance

Requires Regular Maintenance.

Moderate Maintenance

Requires moderate maintenance.

Low Maintenance

Requires little maintenance.

Pruning Required

Needs to be Pruned.

Indigenous

Originates in South Africa.

Non Indigenous

Exotic to South Africa.

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Plant Attributes
Additional Information

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	300 mm high
Categories	Fruits and Vegetables
Common name(s)	Onions
Origin	Asia
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. Onions can be used to make an insect spray. Medicinal uses – Onions contain vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C and E. They are a natural antibiotic, they boost the immune system, cleans the blood, flush kidneys, fight infections, reduce spasm and they are a natural antispasmodic. Onions help clear cholesterol, remove heavy metals from blood and kill parasites within the body. Onion juice can be used to treat cuts and grazes, even to soothe bee and wasp stings.
Interesting planting ideas	Plant onions under apple trees, it will keep apple scab away. Plant spring onions under roses, fruit trees and vines, it will trap black aphids and white fly. Plant near beetroot, cabbages, carrots, chamomile, fruit trees, kale, lettuce, peppers, roses, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes and vines. Don't plant near beans or peas.
Interesting info	Bulb onions are a winter crop. Onions are packed with vitamins and minerals like, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, folic acid, beta carotene, sulphur and quercetin. The onion has been a source of respected medication for thousands of years.
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.

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