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Onions, a Florida staple
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Savory and rich, onions make the world go round, don’t you think? They have an honored place in any garden and you have some choices as they come in a few colors and types. Used both raw and cooked, onions flavor the best of foods that come out of the kitchen. Herbologists consider onions a powerful medicinal plant. They are easy to grow providing temps are on the cooler side.
Types of onions
Onions are classified into seven different types. White or yellow onions are wonderful for cooking. Sautéed, they add a savory and rich flavor to virtually any dish and are integral to cuisines all over the world. Red onions are milder and are wonderful in salads and eaten as slices on buttered rye bread. Scallions are also known as bunching onions of which the green tops and the small bulb are eaten. These are nice to grow as you can harvest the green tops on a regular basis and more will be produced. At the end of the season you can harvest the whole onion bunch. Scallions offer zing to soups and salads. Pearl onions have small bulbs and are perfect for packing into a jar and pickling. They are also great when cooked with creamed peas. Shallots are also a small, bulbed onion and French cuisine demands the best of these. Leeks are a huge favorite. Long, white, tender, and delicate, leeks are well known in cool European climates where Leek and Potato soup is a staple. Buttery and delicate describes the beautiful flavor of the leek and they are always eaten cooked. Last but not least are regional onions. This type of onion is grown on pockets of soil that is like no other. The soil of the region adds the particular flavor to these types. Varieties that come to mind are the famous Vidalia onion, which is sweet and delicate, and the Walla Walla, from Washington state. According to the Gardeners Network, there are long day bulbs and short day bulbs. They explain that long day bulbs require 14 to 16 hours of daylight to form a bulb, and the short day bulbs require 12 to 14 hours. When days get longer in the spring it forces the onions to bulb.
Onions as medicine
Onions have powerful medicinal properties. According to The Herbal Legacy, they contain a powerful flavonoid called quercetin which fights against chronic diseases such as cataracts, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. They also contain organo-sulfur compounds which are known to lower blood pressure. The Herbal Legacy says, “Alliums are antibacterial and anti-fungal, so they can help ward off colds and treat colds with sinus congestion that shifts from side to side in the head. Onion will relieve coughs that cause a ripping or tearing pain in the throat or a cough that is merely an irritating dry tickle. The watery and inflamed eyes due to sinus congestion and hay fever will be greatly relieved with onion.” The onion is wonderful to use when treating symptoms of the common cold.
Planting, soil, and temperature
Three choices are available for planting. Seeds take the longest and may be a little difficult to germinate. Seedlings are the germinated seeds so you are ensured they have germinated and are up and growing. These can be found at your garden center from time to time. Bulbs or ‘sets’ are the easiest to grow and are sold at garden centers and hardware stores. Plant the ‘sets’ halfway buried in the soil. All onions like rich and loamy, well drained soil and love compost. Keep in mind that onions need potassium or the K in N-P-K in order to bulb. Our Florida soils do not contain much if any potassium and it will need to be added. When growing leeks, plant the seedlings deep and mound the soil around the bottom of the stalk as they grow. This will create a nice, long white portion which is prized among cooks, chefs and people who love to eat them! Onions prefer cooler temps and are planted from September thru November in Florida and harvest occurs from December to May. You may harvest the green tops as they add spice to salads, sandwiches and soups, and more will grow in their place. Harvest the bulbs after the tops have drooped, allow them to dry for 3 to 5 days as it prevents the onion from spoiling.
Its wonderful to discover onions in the garden and they are easy to grow in Florida. There are a few varieties to choose from and they are used for different purposes, adding lots of flavor to any dish. They will keep you healthy and make it easier for you to get through the symptoms of the common cold. Enjoy growing them and eating them in the cooler months in Florida.
For more information: Read Suzanne's Florida gardening articles.
Food Reference for onions
Gardeners Net
The Herbal Legacy
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