When is the best time to plant onions outdoors in 2021 according to the lunar calendar?

Onions are a staple in the diet. They are eaten fresh and added to almost every dish. They are grown both in garden plots and on windowsills. Knowing when to plant onion sets outdoors in 2021 can help you grow a bountiful harvest. You can sow nigella seeds and seeds first, harvesting small bulbs and then planting them as turnips, or purchase varietal planting stock immediately and, varying the timing of gardening, harvest the greens, small bulbs, and large root vegetables.

Favorable days for planting onion sets in open ground in 2021

To dig up turnips, agricultural work begins in late March or early April, depending on weather conditions, the lunar calendar for planting onion sets, and the chosen variety. Small root vegetables are grown by sowing nigella seeds in late April, and planting material in the first weeks of May.

The moon's influence on water has long been proven. When the moon waxes, high tides occur in all bodies of water; when it wanes, the water level drops. The increased moonlight stimulates intense sap flow in plants and the accumulation of water in the above-ground parts. Given this influence, it's best to plan onion planting days for the waning moon—then moisture is concentrated in the underground parts of the plants, resulting in the formation of large, juicy roots. Onions are sown for green onions during the waxing moon.

Favorable days for planting green onions and turnips in spring:

• in March - 3-6, 10-15, 18, 22, 27-28, 30;
• in April - 1, 2, 5, 6, 10-14, 18, 19, 25-29;
• in May - 2-5, 11, 12, 15-17, 20, 24-26, 30, 31.

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In cold regions you can capture the beginning of June: 1-3, 6-8, 12, 13, 17-18, 23, 26-30.

When choosing the time to plant winter onions, consider the weather and the lunar calendar. To ensure a good harvest, pay attention to the zodiac sign in which the moon will be positioned. The best time is during the earth signs: Virgo, Capricorn, and Taurus. The last sign is the most favorable. Planting onions in the fall under this sign is possible during both the waxing and waning moon. This will ensure a strong root system, and diseases, pests, and temperature fluctuations will not harm the above-ground parts.

Timing for planting winter onions in open ground in autumn:

• in September - 3, 6-13, 18-25, 30, 31;
• in October - 4-10, 13, 14, 18-23, 26, 27;
• in November - 2-6, 10-13, 17-19, 22-24, 27, 28.

It's important to consider not only calendar dates but also weather conditions. If you rush, before a sustained cold snap sets in, then when the average daily temperature rises above 12°C, the feathers will stretch out and the planting material will be lost.

When you shouldn't plant onion sets

Avoid planning gardening during the full moon and new moon. These are the worst times for planting—plant growth and development slow down, and immunity is weakened. There's a high risk of crop failure. The most unfavorable zodiac signs are Aries, Aquarius, Gemini, Leo, and Virgo.

Days when it is best to rest:

• March — 8-10, 23-25;
• April - 7-9, 22-24;
• May — 6-8, 21-23;
• September - 1-2, 16-18;
• October - 1-3, 15-17, 30-31;
• November - 1, 14-16, 29-30.

These dates include three days—before and after the new moon, and the same amount of time before and after the full moon. Not only are sowing prohibited, but transplanting is also prohibited. However, onions are rarely transplanted anyway.

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The influence of the growing region on the timing

The weather has been unstable lately. Early warm spells are followed by recurrent frosts, and a dry spring gives way to a rainy summer. Even if the lunar calendar recommends sowing, unfavorable climatic conditions should delay planting. Temperature fluctuations are not harmful to nigella, but the development of seedlings slows with insufficient warmth.

The main conditions for collecting a good harvest are: stable temperature (the difference between dark and light hours should not exceed 6°C) and no frost.

In warmer regions of southern Russia, planting can begin in early to mid-March. In the Moscow region and central Russia, it can begin in late April or, if the weather is cool, in early May. Although the Leningrad Region is considered part of the same region, the climate differs—it is more humid, with frequent gusty cold winds and a high risk of recurrent frosts. Farmers in this area are advised to postpone spring fieldwork for 2-3 weeks.

Planting onions in April in the Urals and Siberia during late (or early) frosts is only possible in a greenhouse. Spring in these regions doesn't coincide with the calendar. Summer also rarely offers sunny days—it's short, often rainy, and sometimes nighttime temperatures drop to 5°C or even 0°C. Therefore, it's best to delay sowing onion sets in the spring until May or early June. However, in the fall, all gardening can be completed as early as October.

How do the timings change depending on the variety's characteristics?

Planting stock should be changed at least every 3-4 years. It's best to purchase nigella seeds from brand-name stores. The seeds are prepared for planting and disinfected. In most cases, they have been laser-treated, making them resistant to diseases and pests and tolerant of temperature fluctuations. Onion varieties are classified as early, mid-early, mid-season, and late-season.

For spring sowing, it's recommended to choose spring varieties. They're susceptible to frost but resistant to pests. They're harvested in the fall. Examples of suitable varieties include:

• spicy - Arzamas local, Pogarsky, Rostovsky;
• semi-sharp, reduced shelf life - Vishensky, Krasnodarsky, Yalta;
• early maturing hybrids - Globe, Catarral, Carmen;
• late-ripening - Red Baron, Globo.

Varieties suitable for autumn planting are small root vegetables, up to 1 cm in diameter, with a short ripening period. Winter onions are harvested 2-3 months after emergence. The advantage of this type of planting is the low risk of onion fly infestation. When planting regional varieties, you can follow the lunar calendar, but if you're trying to increase yields with specially bred hybrids, you should pay closer attention to weather forecasts. In this case, pay more attention to the zodiac constellations that include the moon, rather than to favorable and unfavorable days, especially during sudden cold snaps.

Popular varieties of onion sets grown in temperate climates include Esaul, Turbo, and Supra. Hybrid varieties include Cupido, Corrado, Romi, and Red Queen. The period from seedling emergence to yellowing and lodging of the leaves is 75-110 days.

Tips for growing onions

In cold weather, harvesting a decent harvest from open ground in Siberia and the Urals is problematic. In this case, it's worth considering growing onion sets in a greenhouse. Then, they can be planted only according to the lunar calendar, without regard for temperature fluctuations.

Before planting, choose the best spot. Optimal predecessors include cabbage, eggplant, peppers, tomatillos, corn, oats, potatoes, and green manure. Every three years, the plot is moved to avoid depletion of the soil. Carrots are an ideal neighbor in the garden. The mixed aromas of the garden crops repel the main pests—onion flies and carrot flies.

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How to prepare the bulbs

Planting material purchased from a company store was most often processed during pre-sale preparation. If the bulbs were stored at home, they should first be sorted.

For growing greens, heads with a diameter of over 2 cm are suitable, while those with a diameter of 0.6-2 cm are suitable for growing turnips. Smaller heads are sown only for turnips; they are not suitable for forcing greens. They are planted earlier. The larger fraction—1-2 cm—is transplanted to the open ground later than the smaller ones.

Reject any rotten or dried-out root vegetables. Good-quality ones are disinfected by soaking them for 30 minutes in a fungicide (Topaz or Maxim) or a weak solution of potassium permanganate. After this, begin planting immediately—wet bulbs may sprout before they reach the garden beds.

Which soil to choose?

Choose sites with good drainage, sun exposure, preferably loamy or super-sandy, with a pH of 6.5-7.0. The soil must be well loosened to ensure adequate air flow to the root crops.

For spring planting, the plot is prepared in the fall; for winter planting, 2-3 months before sowing. Dig the soil to a depth of at least a spadeful, and add fertilizer—well-rotted manure, peat-manure compost, mature compost, or ash. Immediately before planting the onion sets, repeat the loosening, digging halfway down the spadeful. If a crust has formed due to rain, use a rake. It is advisable to additionally apply a mineral fertilizer complex in the spring. For 1 m², apply 20-25 g of mineral nitrate, 25-30 g of double superphosphate, and 30-35 g of potassium sulfate.

Care requirements

Onions are an easy-to-grow garden crop. Compared to other crops, they require little time to care for. Mandatory agricultural practices include:

1. Loosening. At the same time, weeding is carried out, removing weeds by the roots.
2. Fertilizers. Nutrient deficiencies are determined visually by the plant's appearance. You can water with nettle or herbal infusions, a mullein or bird droppings solution, or general-purpose mineral fertilizers—dilute them according to the instructions.
3. Moisturizing. Before bulbs form, watering twice every 7-10 days is recommended. Once the bulbs have grown, watering can be avoided altogether, provided there is occasional rainfall.
4. Removing the stems. The need is determined by the condition of the crops.

When the bulbs mature, the soil is raked away to enlarge them, exposing approximately one-third of the top. This agricultural practice stimulates increased yield.

Getting a decent onion harvest is easy. Simply sow the seeds at the right time, taking into account the weather and lunar calendar recommendations, and properly care for the plants.