There are few things more satisfying than pulling a perfectly formed onion from your own garden soil. It's a versatile kitchen staple that offers an incredible return on investment for any gardener. But how do you go from a bundle of tiny transplants to a basket full of beautiful bulbs?
We asked Digz
Ambassador and gardening expert Inna (@gardens_better_with_cats) to share her
secrets for a successful onion crop. Following her process, you’ll see just how
easy it is to grow your own.
Why Onions are a Gardener's Best Friend
Before we dig in, let's talk about why onions deserve a prime spot in your garden beds. As Inna points out, the benefits are hard to beat:
- Inexpensive to Grow: A small bundle of transplants can yield a significant harvest, saving you money at the grocery store.
- Space-Efficient: You don't need a huge plot to grow a great crop of onions. They are perfect for raised beds and compact gardens.
- Low Maintenance: Once planted correctly, onions require minimal fuss.
- You Get Two Harvests! You can snip the delicious green tops (scallions) for salads and cooking while the bulbs are still developing underground.
Inna's 4 Keys to a Great Onion Harvest
To ensure you get beautiful, healthy onion bulbs, Inna focuses on getting these four things right from the start.
1. Choose the Right Variety for Your Region
Success begins before you even touch the soil. Onions are sensitive to the length of daylight (photoperiod), which triggers them to form bulbs. Choosing the wrong type for your area is a common reason for failure.
- Long-Day Onions: Need 14-16 hours of summer daylight. They are ideal for gardeners in nothern states.
- Short-Day Onions: Need only 10-12 hours of daylight to form bulbs, making them perfect for southern states.
- Intermediate-Day Onions: Fall in the middle and are versatile for many central regions.
Do a quick search for your state's "onion day length" to ensure you buy the right variety.
2. Give Your Transplants a Trim
Just like a haircut can encourage healthy growth, trimming your onion transplants is a crucial step.
"Trimming the ends, especially the dried ones, assures the plant’s energy goes into forming a healthy root system," Inna explains.
For this delicate job, a sharp, precise tool is essential. The Digz Compact Pruner Shears are perfect for cleanly snipping the tops without crushing the tender shoots, giving your onions the best possible start.
3. Perfect Your Spacing
Onions don't like to be crowded. To give each bulb enough room to swell to its full potential, proper spacing is key. Inna recommends planting your transplants in 6-inch squares. This grid formation allows for easy weeding and ensures each plant has adequate access to nutrients, water, and sunlight. In the reel, you can see her preparing neat rows in her bed to make this step simple.
4. Master the "Pinch Method" for Planting
This might be the most important tip of all. Onions need to be planted very shallowly—only 1-2 inches deep. If planted too deep, the bulb formation can be restricted.
Inna demonstrates the perfect technique: the "pinch" method.
- Use your fingers to create a small hole.
- Place the transplant's roots inside.
- Gently pinch the soil around the base to secure it, leaving most of the small white or red stem above the soil line.
"It's important to protect your hands during this step," Inna advises. "Your fingertips and nails will take most of the heat during this task." That's why she wears her Digz Signature Garden Gloves. They provide the durability to work in the soil for hours while offering the dexterity needed for such a precise planting technique.
After planting, simply cover the bed with a layer of mulch, like the leaves Inna uses, to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Before you know it, you'll be enjoying fresh green onions and, eventually, a beautiful harvest of full-sized bulbs.
