Onions: To Mulch or Not?
chickencoupe
9 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (8)
chickencoupe
9 years agoRelated Discussions
corn gluten and onion seedlings (af)
Comments (12)Hi Tom, I'm certainly not an onion expert. Yes I have grown them for about 35 years, but for most of those years not well :-) Up until about five years ago I only grew about 40' of onions, just enough for my batches of salsa that I can every year. I started from seed and transplanted in April, but the onions were generally small. In recent years I began reading more, planting more, buying the right varieties of onion plants, getting soil analyses, and boosting the nitrogen during the spring. Now my onions are properly large. The common factors over the years was compost and mulch. Feed hay is any type that is suitable for feeding to horses, usually timothy hay. Spoiled hay is bales of hay that have gotten wet, are usually moldy, and are no longer suitable as feed. Spoiled hay is cheaper, usually $2-4/bale depending where you are, and is sometimes sold as "mulch hay". I use the term "feed hay" to distinguish it from salt hay or straw. I get mine at a local horse supply farm - one bale covers about 100 sq ft. I have two onion beds (blocks), each having 6 rows that are 10' long and 12" apart, with onions planted 6" on center (120 onion plants per bed). This way I can kneel just outside the bed and be able to reach the center (I'm 6'4" tall). I wait until the onions are about a foot tall before mulching as it is easy to damage or bury smaller plants when putting down the hay. I apply the hay mulch all at once by pulling a good handful from the bale and gently tucking it between the rows and up against the plants, leaving the green leaves exposed to sunlight. The plants are delicate so this must be done carefully, and wear a dust mask when handling spoiled hay. I suppose you can mulch in stages, but it's more work and increases the chance of damage. Now if you apply grass clippings or a finely chopped hay, mulching in stages would be fine. As the onions start bulbing, the hay is compressed down to a couple of inches and I pull it up to but not on top of the bulbs, thus leaving the bulb tops exposed to the sun. In your situation, you can wait until the plants are a good foot tall to mulch, but then will likely have to weed again before applying. Or you can apply a couple of inches of grass clippings or other fine organic mulch now to suppress the crab grass, and then finish mulching with hay when the plants are stronger. Feel free to ask questions Tom, or if you prefer you can give me a call (732 721 4750). TomNJ...See MoreOnion mulching?
Comments (5)you shouldn't mulch onions as you would garlic since onions will have a hard time emerging through the mulch. however after the onions emerge there should be no problem with mulching them. i never have used cardboard so i don't know about that. i use straw. i guess if you use cardboard as one would use plastic mulch then there is nothing blocking the emergence of the plant....See MoreWhat did you do on this lovely weekend?
Comments (6)Didn't accomplish nearly enough! Cleaned up an area littered with broken limbs, pine cones & needles, removed many saplings and small Ivies (thanks, birds & tree-rats, for making my garden work more strenuous!), dug several yards²of Liriope, spaded area for 2 raised bed extensions, planted a large shrub and a small Daphne odora and several perennials, that had been waiting far too long! Also, planted a few dozen Daffodils, that had been overlooked and forgotten. They probably won't bloom until next year, but they were beginning to sprout and needed to be planted. Sunday afternoon, went to the HD to pick up amendments & peat. By the time I loaded a cart, then my vehicle and unloaded the water-laden bags at home, then mixed about 25 gal. of "home-brew" potting mix, my back began to groan: Enough, Already! That ended my weekend, with a lot of planned work, unfinished! The potting mix is for a shipment of plants from the frozen tundra, up "nawth", due here on Thurs., But it's very cold and snowing there today, so they may be delayed. That would suit me!...See MoreWild onion clippings in mulch
Comments (1)It might happen if the wild onions have already flowered and set seed. Otherwise, no, it shouldn't be a problem. We have wild onions in some of our pastures and when I mow them in spring, I add those clippings (before the onions flower) to my garden mulch and I don't have a problem with wild onions popping up in the garden....See MoreAmyinOwasso/zone 6b
9 years agoShaer
9 years agoShaer
9 years agochickencoupe
9 years agoOkiedawn OK Zone 7
9 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
Related Stories
HERBSHerb Garden Essentials: How to Grow Chives
This decorative and delicately flavored herb from the onion family is easy to grow indoors and out
Full StoryGARDENING AND LANDSCAPINGGarden Musts for March
Some toil in the soil this month will help ensure a blooming garden come summer, so dig out your shovel and bring on the mulch
Full StoryREGIONAL GARDEN GUIDESMid-Atlantic Gardener's March Checklist
Hunt for new growth in the garden but play the protector for baby plants and birds flying home to nest
Full StoryFRONT YARD IDEASBefore and After: Front Lawn to Prairie Garden
How they did it: Homeowners create a plan, stick to it and keep the neighbors (and wildlife) in mind
Full StoryPETS6 Ways to Help Your Dog and Landscape Play Nicely Together
Keep your prized plantings intact and your dog happy too, with this wisdom from an expert gardener and dog guardian
Full StoryGARDENING AND LANDSCAPINGHouzz Survey: See What Homeowners Are Doing With Their Landscapes Now
Homeowners are busy putting in low-maintenance landscapes designed for outdoor living, according to the 2015 Houzz landscaping survey
Full StoryEARTH DAYGrow a Beautiful Garden With Ecofriendly Greywater
Reducing home water waste means lower bills and a healthier planet. Here's how to set up a greywater home irrigation system that can help
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESThe Surprising Ingredients Every Good Garden Should Have
See what to do — and not do — for lasting rewards in your landscape
Full StoryPETSPet-Proofing Your Home: A Room-by-Room Guide
Not all pet dangers are obvious. Keep furry friends safe and sound by handling all of these potential hazards
Full StoryEDIBLE GARDENSSummer Crops: How to Grow Tomatoes
Plant tomato seedlings in spring for one of the best tastes of summer, fresh from your backyard
Full StorySponsored
Shaer