To plant Granex onions, follow these steps:
1. Prepare the soil: Choose a well-draining location in your garden that receives full sun. Loosen the soil to a depth of about 6 inches using a garden fork or tiller. Remove any weeds or rocks from the area.
2. Spacing and planting: Onions should be spaced 3 inches apart in rows that are 1 foot apart. This allows enough room for the bulbs to develop properly. If you prefer not to thin the onions later, you can plant them 4-6 inches apart. Make a furrow in the soil using a gardening tool, ensuring it is deep enough to accommodate the onion bulbs.
3. Planting the bulbs: Place the onion bulbs in the furrow, with the root end facing downwards. Gently cover the bulbs with soil, making sure they are completely buried. The top of the bulb should be level with the soil surface. Continue planting the remaining bulbs in the same manner, maintaining the recommended spacing between them.
4. Thinning (optional): If you choose to thin the onions, wait until they have grown to a height of around 6 inches. At this stage, the plants will be more established, making it easier to select the strongest ones. Remove the excess plants by gently pulling them out from the base, being careful not to disturb the surrounding bulbs. Thinning helps in providing adequate space for the remaining onions to grow larger.
5. Mulching: Once the onions have reached a height of 1 foot, it is beneficial to apply a layer of mulch around the plants. Mulching helps in conserving soil moisture, suppressing weed growth, and maintaining a more stable soil temperature. Use organic materials such as straw, leaves, or grass clippings as mulch. Spread a layer of about 2-3 inches around the base of the onion plants, being cautious not to cover the growing bulbs.
6. Maintenance: Regularly monitor the onions for any signs of bolting. Bolting refers to the premature flowering and seed production of the onion plant. When a plant bolts, it diverts energy away from bulb development, resulting in smaller bulbs. If you notice any plants starting to bolt, promptly remove and use them as scallions. This ensures that the remaining onions can continue to grow larger bulbs.
Planting Granex onions involves properly spacing the bulbs, ensuring they are planted at the correct depth, optionally thinning the plants, mulching for moisture retention, and removing any plants that begin to bolt. By following these steps, you can successfully grow delicious Granex onions in your garden.
