Allium cepa Onion (Alliaceae) Evergreen bulb

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Allium cepa
Onion
Evergreen bulb
(1 Page of 5)

The Allium cepa plant species is found in W. Asia - Iran? The original habitat is obscure. It is a member of the Alliaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Onion.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Allium cepa
Common Name:  Onion
Family:  Alliaceae
Author:  L.

Known Hazards:  There have been cases of poisoning caused by the consumption, in large quantities and by some mammals, of this plant. Dogs seem to be particularly susceptible[76].

Mature Height:  0.6   Mature Width:

Habitat:  Not known in the wild.

Propagation Notes: Seed. Early sowings can be made in February in a greenhouse to be planted out in late spring. The main sowing is made in March or April in an outdoor seedbed, this bed must be very well prepared. A sowing can also be made in an outdoor seedbed in August of winter hardy varieties (the Japanese onions are very popular for this). These overwinter and provide an early crop of onion bulbs in June of the following year. Onion sets can be planted in March or April. Sets are produced by sowing seed rather thickly in an outdoor seedbed in May or June. The soil should not be too rich and the seedlings will not grow very large in their first year. The plants will produce a small bulb about 1 - 2cm in diameter, this is harvested in late summer, stored in a cool frost-free place over winter and then planted out in April. A proportion of the bulbs will run quickly to seed but most should grow on to produce good sized bulbs.

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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