When To Plant Walla Walla Onions
When To Plant Walla Walla Onions
I’ve discovered, through trial and error, that Walla Walla onions acclimate very well to the high desert climate of western Oregon. Here are some tips on how to get started growing these mild-tasting sweet beauties in your garden or backyard.
When To Plant Walla Walla Onions
When to plant Walla Walla onions depends on the region you live in, as well as the time of year. If it’s winter where you are, I would suggest waiting until spring. In areas where there is a short growing season (like the Pacific Northwest), it’s best to plant your onion seedlings early in the season. This means that if you have plenty of sunlight, then go ahead and sow your seeds right away!
In areas with longer growing seasons (New England and beyond), planting in fall might be best for you because this gives them plenty of time to grow before winter arrives again. Since Walla Walla onions are often planted for their long storage life rather than their taste or yield, some growers like this method because their crop will hang around longer than other types without rotting over time due to weather conditions affecting growth rates or causing additional stress from other factors outside our control such as pests eating away at them during certain times throughout their lifespan.”
How to plant, grow, and harvest them
Walla Walla onions are a mild, sweet variety of onion that make an excellent addition to any garden. They’re easy to grow and can be harvested even if you’ve never planted anything before.
Step 1: Plant Walla Walla onion seeds in spring or summer (after the last frost). Plant them about 2 inches deep, leaving about 4 inches between each seedling—if they’re too close together, they’ll crowd one another out of nutrients and sunlight as they grow up beside each other.
Step 2: Water regularly until the plant reaches 8 inches tall; then let the soil dry out slightly before watering again—this will prevent root rot and encourage healthy growth (and good-tasting bulbs).
What you need to know about onions
Before you grow onions, you need to know how to use them. In this section, we’ve gathered together some of our favorite ways to eat them:
- Onion rings
- Onion soup
- Caramelized onion dip (the perfect accompaniment for crudités)
- Roasted red pepper and feta salad with balsamic vinaigrette (add some cubed Walla Walla onions for extra flavor)
Soil preparation
To prepare your soil before planting, you will need to add compost and fertilizer. A layer of mulch should also be spread over the soil so that weeds are less likely to grow. Finally, a layer of straw can be laid on top of the soil in order to help retain moisture and reduce evaporation.
Spring planting
Spring is the best time to plant Walla Walla onions. They are harvested in the summer, and they have a milder flavor than fall and winter onions. If you live in a USDA zone 7 or higher, plant them outdoors in spring. Plant them indoors as seedlings if your area has cold winters; this way they can be planted out after danger of frost passes.
Spring onions are used for salads and stir fries because their taste is milder than other types of onion
When you will recognize your new onion plants
When you will recognize your new onion plants:
- When you see the sprouts. This should happen within 2-3 weeks after planting, when the seed leaves are 2 to 3 inches tall and show a little white root at the base.
- When you see the seed leaves. As soon as these appear, pull them up carefully so they don’t break off their roots or get caught in other plants’ roots or sprouts—you want them to be ready for planting again! The true leaves will grow out of each side of this pointy seed leaf as it grows longer and longer. The bulb will start forming at this point too; however, if you’re not going to eat it right away (or have another use for it), leave it on its plant until harvest time, when about 80% of its growth has occurred—this gives more room for storage throughout winter months than if taken earlier in life cycle.”
If you want to grow Walla Walla onions from seeds, do this.
If you want to grow Walla Walla onions from seeds, do this.
- Plant them in a pot and keep the soil moist. Don’t let it dry out completely, but don’t over-water either.
- Keep them in a sunny spot, but not too hot or they will bolt. Ideal temperatures are between 60 F and 80 F.
- Harvest when they are ready—that means when the tops fall over on their own accord (they should be floppy). You can eat these raw like an apple or cook them for flavor enhancement, such as adding them to salads or sandwiches
Grow them yourself, it’s fun and easy!
If you’re looking to grow your own Walla Walla onions, it can be done in a number of ways:
In the ground (space permitting): Plant seeds in late spring or early summer. Harvest bulbs a few months later when they are mature.
In containers: For an indoor garden, choose small varieties like the “Evergreen Hardy Red Giant” that only need to be planted once and will produce many years without replanting. A large container is needed for this type of garden as well as lots of light and water throughout the season. This method works best indoors but can also be done on a patio or balcony outdoors if there is enough room for them to grow!
In the end, is there any magic time when to plant Walla Walla onions? Well, no. But if you follow these steps and keep them in mind as you’re planting your onion seeds or plants, then you’ll be well on your way to having a successful crop of your favorite sweet onions. Don’t forget the key steps: prepare your soil before planting, plant in early spring (about two months before the last frost), water regularly but don’t let it get too wet or dry out completely, and keep an eye on weed growth around them so they don’t steal nutrients from their intended cultivation—the onions!