How to Grow Your Own Organic Onions
Onions are a close relative to garlic, leeks, shallots and chives, and belongs to the lily family (all these vegetables and lilies are highly toxic to pets, so keep them away). One of the oldest foods known to man, they have been grown and eaten for over 5000 years.
Onions (after potatoes and tomatoes) are the world’s third most consumed vegetable (in Libya they eat more onions than anyone else on earth).
You can remove the pungeant smell from your hands by rubbing them on stainless steel under cold water). Or use Friendly Soap’s cook’s soap, specially designed to remove ‘chef hand smells!’
Slicing an onion breaks the cells, to release an enzyme called alliinase. This reacts to form a gas, which is what makes your eyes water. To stop this happening, use a sharp knife and chill onions in the fridge half an hour before (a sharp knife slices rather than crushes cells and the cold temperature slows release of the gas). Leave the root (bottom end) till last, as it contains the most sulfuric compounds.
Eating an apple (or chewing raw parsley) after eating onions, quickly neutralises ‘onion breath!’
Onion’s skin very thin, mild winter coming in. Onion’s skin thick and tough, coming winter cold and rough. Old English proverb
Onions (after potatoes and tomatoes) are the world’s third most consumed vegetable (in Libya they eat more onions than anyone else on earth).
What you need to grow organic onion
Onions are planted as small immature bulbs in early autumn or spring, and need a long growing season in a sunny open site, with free-draining soil, in order to survive in England’s weaether!
Onion sets are more expensive than seeds, but more hardy to handle our damp soil and grow quicker. Look for organic sets like Sturon (yellow) or Red Baron (red). Heavy clay soils need raised beds, as onions will rot in water-logged winter soil.
Birds sometimes mistake onion tips for worms, so prepared to lose a little of the harvest (never use netting, it traps birds and wildlife). Add a thicker mulch (this will only happen for a few weeks until onions establish).
- Read up on pet-friendly gardens for plants and mulches (like cocoa) to avoid
- Use humane non-toxic methods to deter slugs/snails
- For indoor plants and greenhouses, use Feather Friendly bird tape to stop birds flying into windows (avoid facing indoor plants to face gardens).
Weed by hand around the onions, to protect wildlife and also to avoid disturbing delicate shoots. Water through dry spells in spring and summer, then stop watering once onions have swollen in mid-summer, to let them ripen. Organic onions can be harvested July to September. Use a small garden trowel to carefully lift them up, being careful to avoid disturbing earthworms and stag beetle grubs in the oil.
Leave harvested onions on the soil surface for a few days to dry in the sun (keep away from pets) or if rain is forecast, move to a slatted bench in an airy greenhouse, porch or shed. It takes a couple of weeks for skins to become papery.
Where to buy sustainable onions
If you can’t find sustainable leek seeds locally, you can buy from Tamar Organics or Rocket Gardens.
Ways to eat fresh organic onion
Onion should be avoided for people with allergies along with anyone taking blood thinners or with bleeding disorders (also avoid for 14 days before scheduled surgery or major dental surgery due its blood-thinning properties). Also avoid for IBS and acid reflux. Check medication inserts too, as some interact with onion.
Keep onion (or any foods containing them) away from pets. All alliums (including onion, leeks, garlic, shallots and chives) are toxic to all animal friends (cats and Japanese dog breeds are especially sensitive).
Vegan French onion soup
Fry 3 large thinly sliced yellow onions in 1 tbsp vegetable oil for around 12 minutes until golden brown and sticky. Pour in 750mls good veggie stock and 1 tbsp soy sauce, bring to a boil then turn down the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Ladle into bowls and top with a slice of toasted crusty bread and grated vegan cheese.
Creamy French Onion Dip
Fry 2 finely chopped medium onions in 1 tbsp rapeseed or olive oil over medium heat for 15 minutes, then cool. Mix into 250g plain plant-based yoghurt, stir in 1/2 tsp garlic powder and salt to taste. Serve with raw veggie sticks.
