How to Grow Sprouting Onions

If you see green sprouts growing from an onion, it means the onion is growing back. By separating the sprouts inside the rind and planting in good soil, you can harvest many new onions in just one season.

Table of Contents

Prepare sprouted onions

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Peel off the paper-thin outer layer of a sprouted onion. Press the tip of the onion with your fingernails and gradually peel off the outer skin. Remove this skin after you are done peeling.

Use a knife to cut the onion layers from the sprouts. Sprouts will grow from the top of the onion. Cut the onion layers lengthwise, trying not to break the sprouts. Repeat with the other side and then carefully separate the onion layers. ^{[1] X Research Source}

If you don’t have a knife, you can peel the onions layer by layer with your bare hands.
You can eat these layers of onions if they are still firm and crispy, as long as they are washed well before cooking. If onions are soft and mushy, discard them immediately. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Separate onion sprouts. You will find sprouts growing in the center of the onion. Some will stick out of the onion, others won’t. Gently separate the sprouts with your hands so they have enough room to grow. With proper care, each sprout will grow into a new onion.

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Soak onion sprouts in water until roots grow. You can soak the onion sprouts in one or more beakers filled with water. After a few days, white roots will begin to sprout under each sprout.

If the white roots are already in place, you can immediately plant the onion sprouts into the soil.
If the roots of the onion sprouts are brown and dry, they are dead. You need to wait for new white roots to form.

Planting sprouted onions

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Plant onion sprouts 2.5 cm deep in high quality organic clean soil. Dig separate holes for each sprout and backfill so that only the green leaves stick out. Each hole should be at least 7.5 cm apart or planted in a separate pot so that the onion sprouts have enough space to grow. ^{[3] X Research Source} You can add a thin layer of mulch to aid in onion growth.

Whether growing indoors or outdoors, you need to make sure there is enough sunlight for your onions.
If you live in a cold climate, plant sprouts in pots and gradually move them outside. Onions have been in the house for a while and need to gradually adjust to acclimatization. ^{[4] X Research Sources}
During the winter in cold climates, keep plants indoors most of the time to help them survive. ^{[5] X Research Sources}
Onions will gradually form after 60-80 days. ^{[6] X Research Source}

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Water every few days. Onions are very hardy, but they also need a lot of water to grow. Use a watering can or hose to spray a little water on the soil around the base of the onion. Note: do not water the onion directly. Check to make sure the soil is well drained. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

If you use mulch, onions need only 2.5 cm of water per week. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Check plants and kill weeds daily (if any). As the onion grows, weeds will inevitably grow around. Wear gardening gloves and pull weeds to the roots so they don’t grow back.

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Spray fungicide twice a week. The spray will prevent plant-damaging fungi from growing, while also keeping the onions healthy. You just need to spray a little medicine for each onion is enough. ^{[9] X Research Source}

If you prefer to grow organically, you can use solutions like hydrogen peroxide or copper sulfate to replace pesticides. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Harvest onions

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Watch for signs that the onion is ripe for harvest. Onions will grow in 60 – 80 days. If you leave it too long without harvesting, the onions will rot. Watch for the following signs that it’s time to harvest:

The onion completely emerges from the soil. ^{[11] X Research Source}
The green sprouts wilt and turn brown.
Flower stalks appear. ^{[12] X Research Source}

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Pull the onion out of the ground to harvest. When the sprouts have completely transformed into an onion and meet the above signs, you can harvest. Boldly grasp the petiole and pluck the onions up to the roots.

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Place onions on dry soil to dry outside for a few days. Gently lay the onions in a single layer to avoid bruising. This process will help the onion to dry out and the soil to fall off. ^{[13] X Research Source}

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Cut the roots and leave about 2.5 cm petiole. You can use a knife or garden shears. Thus, the onion will stop growing and not decompose during storage. ^{[14] X Research Source}

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Dry the onions on a cool, dry surface until a dry outer shell forms. At this point, the petioles will shrink and the outer skin of the onion will dry like paper. You can dry it in a shed or garage floor, as long as it’s in a cool, dry place and not exposed to sunlight. This process usually takes about 1 month. ^{[15] X Research Source}

You can skip the initial treatment and use it right away, but storing onions without drying them first makes them very susceptible to mold and rotting. ^{[16] X Research Source}
If you can’t find a dry place to dry onions, you can consider using a dehumidifier to reduce the moisture in the onions. ^{[17] X Research source} .

Advice

Spring is usually the best season to plant onions, but if you live in a temperate climate, fall or early winter is also quite suitable. ^{[19] X Research Source}

Warning

If you suspect an onion is rotten or the onion looks soft and mushy, don’t eat it, just throw it away.
You should note that only watering the soil around the base, not directly on the onion leaves. If you water the sprouts, the plant will become moist and attract fungal or bacterial spores. ^{[20] X Research Sources}

Steps

Prepare sprouted onions

Planting sprouted onions

Harvest onions

Advice

Warning

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