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How—and When—to Water Your Onion Plants

Gardening Guide: The Outstanding Onion Gardening Guide: All You Need to Know About Growing, Harvesting, Cooking, and Eating Delicious Onions

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How—and When—to Water Your Onion Plants

By Norann Oleson

Watering onion plants

Watering onion plants

Onions need consistent watering, especially during the growing season—but you don’t want to soak them. Too much water is as bad—or worse—than too little. About an inch a week is a good idea. Water once or twice a week, unless it’s particularly dry in your area. Just keep an eye on your onion plants and don’t let them go thirsty. If you have sandy soil, you’ll have to water more often. You can check the soil moisture by sinking a trowel into the soil near your plants. If the blade is clean and dry when you remove it, you need to water more. If your trowel has some soil clinging to it, then your soil is adequately moist. You can stop watering once your onion bulbs have reached their full size and the plants begin to topple over. But until then, keep watering!

Once the onion plants are tall enough, you can lay down some mulch around the plants, in a layer about 2 inches deep. This will do two things: it will lock in moisture; and it will cut off the light to any weeds that are working their way out of the soil. Straw is a good choice for mulch—straw, not hay. It will also make good compost at the end of the season. Other good mulch choices include grass clippings, shredded leaves, or cured and shredded wood mulch.

Tip: Early morning is the best time of day to water your onion plants. Avoid watering during the evening or night; that can encourage the growth of mold and mildew.

Rainwater is best for your garden plants. If you can collect rainwater, your onion plants will benefit from that! A lot of communities offer discounted prices on rain barrels. They’re easy to set up, and just about as easy to put on “pause” if you live in an area with cold winters. There’s even a special downspout attachment you can get to direct the rainwater right into your barrel.

When you properly water your onions, you’ll have healthy plants and a good harvest.

How often do you water your onion plants? And what time of day do you water? Please tell us how you ensure that your onion plants get the right amount of water.

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Comments
  • Bob M. October 3, 2022

    Drip irrigation will improve the yield and quality of your onion crop.

    Reply

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Curator’s Corner
  • Introduction
  • Feature Articles

  • Types of Onion Plants
  • Choosing to Grow Onions from Seeds, Transplants, or Sets
  • Growing Onions in Open Land, in Raised Beds, or in Containers
  • Starting with the Right Soil for Your Onion Plants
  • Companion Planting with Your Onion Crop: What to Plant Nearby—and What to Keep at a Distance
  • The Right Sunlight for Your Onion Plants
  • Should You Fertilize Your Onion Plants?
  • How—and When—to Water Your Onion Plants
  • How to Spot, Treat, and Prevent Onion Diseases
  • Bulb Rot in Onion Plants: How to Identify, Treat, and Prevent Different Types of Bulb Rot
  • What to Do About Pests that Can Harm Your Onion Plants
  • The Right Way to Weed Your Onion Patch
  • Why Do Onions Make You Cry?
  • Onion Harvesting, Curing, and Storage Tips
  • Essential Tools and Equipment for Growing and Enjoying Onions
  • Plant Profiles

  • Dutch Yellow Shallots
  • French Red Shallots
  • Patterson Onions
  • Walla Walla Onions
  • Southport Red Globe Onions
  • White Sweet Spanish Onions
  • Utah Yellow Sweet Spanish Onions
  • Candy Onions
  • Red Burgundy Onions
  • Yellow Granex Onions
  • Early White Grano Onions
  • Recipes

  • Caramelized Onions
  • Easy Onion Dinner Rolls
  • Onions in a Pickle
  • French Onion Soup
  • Scalloped Onions
  • Onion-Topped Focaccia Bread
  • No-Guilt Onion Bloom
  • Additional Articles

  • Nutrition Facts about Onions
  • Home Remedies & Health Benefits of Onions
  • Resources about Onions
  • Onion Glossary
  • Related Articles

  • 10 Deer-Resistant Vegetables and Herbs
  • The Best Vegetables to Plant Together for an Unbelievable Harvest
  • Are You Storing Onions the Wrong Way? Learn How to Store Every Variety
  • Best Tips for Handling Onions
  • 5 Tips for Growing a Healthy Harvest of Onions This Year

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