plant

Onion

Allium cepa

Updated 8 Jul 2026 · AI-parsed entry

Onion (Allium cepa) — a plant, for Full sun, Medium water. Companions: Cabbage, Asparagus.

What it needs & gives back

↓ Needs

Sunlightfull sun
Watermedium

↑ Gives back

Biomassedible bulb and leaves

Companions

Keep apart from

Through the year

Emergence

Seeds germinate and seedlings emerge when soil temperatures reach 5 C or above.

Flowering

Flowering is triggered by long days after a period of cold temperatures (vernalization).

Fruiting

Fruit (seed heads) develop after flowering.

Harvest

Bulbs are typically harvested in late summer when tops begin to fall over.

Dormancy

Plants enter dormancy with the onset of cold temperatures and first autumn frosts.

Senescence

Foliage dies back with the first autumn frosts.

Timing is relative to your local season (temperate Northern Hemisphere).

Soil interactions

Drainagewell-drained
Nitrogen fixingNo
MycorrhizalNo
Soil texturesandy loam, loam
Organic matterLow
Compaction toleranceLow

Propagation

Methodsseed, sets
Difficulty2 / 5
Establishes in~1 yr
Stratificationnone
Self-seedingLight

Wildlife & pests

Attractspollinators
Repelscarrot rust fly, aphids
Can host diseasesonion downy mildew, pink root