Volume 2 – Mrs. Frugal Suggests… Onions.

Onions. You heard me correctly, dear readers. If there is one edible plant you should take more notice of -- it is the onion. This humble vegetable is a powerhouse in the kitchen, a showpiece in floral bouquets, and will win your undying admiration in the garden. Often relegated to supporting culinary roles, the onion dreams of taking center stage at your table, performing a perfect pirouette for your tastebuds, and landing with a bow to applause and a standing ovation by your dinner guests. For the moment, banish from your mind the thought of the “blooming onion” or other fat-soaked culinary mis-steps, and walk with me upon a garden path of culinary delight.

Let us begin our foray into all-things-onion in the kitchen garden, where, for even the most novice of gardeners, this member of the allium family will bring hearty satisfaction with little worry of failure. Even if you have never tended a green thing in your life, you will be able to grow onions. They can be planted from either seed, potted nursery rootings or bulb sets, or even your discarded refrigerator de-tritus. You can pop these obliging fellows in the ground just about anywhere, in any kind of soil, under the harshest of weather conditions, and for those with limited space, they take to pots like a charm.

Onions need little tending other than to water them on a fairly regular basis (twice a week will usually do) and keep them somewhat free of weeds. They will tolerate full sun or partial shade as your yard allows. Green onions and chives will even do well indoors on a sunny windowsill, and this proximity to the kitchen will encourage you to trim, chop and sprinkle those beautiful green tops into all of your favorite dishes.

There are many colors and flavors of onions, and different shapes to the bulbs (round, oblong or squat), but all are easy to plant and look pleasant in the vegetable, herb or flower garden. To grow from seed in the spring, dig the soil up a bit, wet it down with water, and sprinkle the onion seeds about the top. With-in days you will see sprouts begin to grow. You can also do this any time of year indoors, by growing onions in a bit of potting soil (a misting bottle works well for keeping potted soil moist). Onions will tolerate any soil, but you can befriend them further by adding compost and making sure your soil is well-draining.

Large onions need room around them to grow, so you may need to separate small onion plants that have sprung from seed or that you have bought as seedlings from the garden center. Simply use a small spade or spoon to help loosen the soil, then carefully pull the plant up and transfer it to a new location. With a gentle hand, your onions will not mind the change of scenery.

Besides the plant nursery, the grocery store is an excellent place to obtain onions for the garden. The next time you buy green onions, try saving the bottom two inches and planting them, root down, in your garden or a pot on the kitchen window. They will immediately begin to put down roots and push up new shoots, which you can continue to trim and enjoy. The same can be done with large grocery onions. Cut and plant the bottom inch, and the plant will regrow like a magician slowly emerging from a vanishing cabinet. (Onion’s first cousin Garlic will also happily root for you, and is often so enthusiastic to do so, it starts sprouting in the fridge. Divide the bulb into cloves, give them a chance to grow, and you won’t be disappointed!)