13 Onion Growing Stages: A Complete Guide

White Scribbled Underline

JustPureGardening.com

Thick Brush Stroke

Ever wondered how onions grow? There are 13 onion growth stages, each with its own unique characteristics. Let’s take a closer look at each stage of onion growth.

Curved Dotted Line
Curved Dotted Line
Thick Brush Stroke

There are two main ways to plant onions: onion seeds or bulbs. Regardless of whether you choose, selecting an area with loose, well-draining soil and full sun is a must.

Thick Brush Stroke
Thick Brush Stroke

Stage 1. Planting

Curved Dotted Line
White Scribbled Underline
Palm Leaf
Thick Brush Stroke

The seed or bulb sprouts tiny roots and a shoot. This takes about 7 to 10 days. Once the onion has germinated, the tiny leaves will emerge from the soil.

Thick Brush Stroke

Stage 2. Germination

White Scribbled Underline
Curved Dotted Line
Palm Leaf
Thick Brush Stroke
Thick Brush Stroke

During vegetative growth, the onion plant will produce a cluster of leaves called a scallion. The scallion will continue to grow and eventually form a bulb at the base.

Stage 3.  Vegetative Growth

White Scribbled Underline
Curved Dotted Line
Thick Brush Stroke
Thick Brush Stroke

As the plant continues to grow leaves, the bulb also starts to take shape. The leaves and bulb grow in tandem, complementing each other’s progress.

Stage 4.  Bulb Development

White Scribbled Underline
Curved Dotted Line
Onion
Thick Brush Stroke
Medium Brush Stroke

Once the onion bulb has grown slightly and the leaves have matured, you can begin leaf harvesting. Gently snip off 2-3 leaves from each onion at the base of the plant.

Stage 5.  Harvesting Leaves

White Scribbled Underline
Curved Dotted Line
Palm Leaf
Onion
Thick Brush Stroke
Thick Brush Stroke

As the onion bulb matures, the bottom leaves will gradually wilt, and the bulb will become firm. The neck of the bulb will toughen and may eventually fall over.

Stage 6. Maturation

White Scribbled Underline
Curved Dotted Line
Palm Leaf
White Line
Medium Brush Stroke
Gray Frame Corner

At this stage, you must make an important decision: whether to harvest the bulb or leave it in the ground. Harvesting will give you fresh onions, while leaving it will allow for more leaves and seeds to be harvested the next year.

Stage 7. Harvest

Onion
Gray Frame Corner
Thick Brush Stroke
Medium Brush Stroke

If the onion plant is not harvested, it undergoes visible changes as it prepares for the winter. The foliage begins to show signs of aging and deterioration of plant tissues.

Stage 8.  Vegetative Senescence

White Scribbled Underline
Curved Dotted Line
Palm Leaf
Thick Brush Stroke

After the onion plant has gone dormant for the winter, it will begin to grow again in the spring. During this stage, the onion plant will produce new leaves.

Thick Brush Stroke

Stage 9. Year 2 Vegetative Growth

White Scribbled Underline
Curved Dotted Line
Onion
Palm Leaf
Thick Brush Stroke
White Scribbled Underline

Stage 10. Flowering

Thick Brush Stroke

After the onion plant has completed its year two vegetative growth, it will begin to bolt.

Stage 11. Pollination

Once the onion flowers have bloomed, they must be pollinated to produce seeds. Insects like bees, bumblebees, butterflies, and hoverflies usually do this.

Tilted Brush Stroke
Medium Brush Stroke

Stage 12.  Seed Formation

Once the flowers are successfully pollinated, the seeds begin to develop. They will develop a hard outer shell and fall to the ground, where they will germinate in the spring.

Squiggly Line
Yellow Leaves
Palm Leaf
White Line
Medium Brush Stroke
Gray Frame Corner
Thick Brush Stroke

Stage 13. Plant Senescence

Senescence is the final stage of an onion plant’s life cycle. It occurs after the seeds have formed and matured.

Medium Brush Stroke
White Scribbled Underline
Palm Leaf
White Line
Thick Brush Stroke
Medium Brush Stroke
Gray Frame Corner
Gray Frame Corner

Swipe Up To Read Full Post

Dashed Trail
Cutout

You’ll Also Love:

White Line
White Frame Corner
White Frame Corner