If you love cooking, you probably love the taste and versatility of red onions. But did you know that you can grow these onions easily at home? In this article, horticulture expert Matt Dursum covers how to plant, grow, and care for red onions in your garden. Red onions are a magical ingredient. They give salads and sandwiches a satisfying spicy crunch. Curries and chutneys wouldn’t be the same without them. And red onion pickles? Don’t get me started! As versatile as they are in the kitchen, these tender bulbs are equally easy to grow in the garden. They’ll stand up to almost any climate, and novice gardeners can enjoy their easy maintenance and bountiful harvests. Let’s dive into learning more about red onions and how to grow them in your home garden. With a few guidelines in mind, you can harvest massive red onions throughout the year. What Is It? Red onions are herbaceous biennial vegetables with flavorful foliage and juicy bulbs. They’re members of the Amaryllidaceae family of plants, which include garlic, white onions, leeks, shallots, and chives. They’re some of the oldest and most widely used vegetables on earth. The red variety evolved over thousands of years from species of wild onions. Humans have cultivated them since ancient times. In India, the first record of their use dates back 5,000 years and in ancient Egypt, to 3500 B.C.E. The red color of these onions comes from anthocyanin pigments in their skin. These natural dyes have powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective properties. These bulbs also contain a huge amount of vitamins and minerals. Because of this, these allium varieties are incredibly important in a healthy diet. Characteristics Red onions are biennial but often grown as annuals. You can harvest them around 110 to 115 days after sowing. They grow large and flavorful green foliage around their bulbous base. The leaves are hollow and can grow up to 2 feet tall. Every part of the plant is edible and highly nutritious for humans. However, they may be toxic to pets such as dogs, horses, and cats. Native Area Red onions evolved from wild onions in Central Asia, similar to white onions and other species in the Allium genus. Ancient societies propagated them for their red color, and soon, they spread throughout the ancient world. From ancient Egypt to ancient China, these delicious bulbs became mainstay ingredients in a variety of cuisines. People then brought them to the Mediterranean region where they took hold in Greece and Rome. Pliny the Elder wrote about them and the ancient Greeks used them as a dietary supplement. After spreading throughout Europe, these red-skinned bulbs made it across the pond to the Americas. Today, these flavorful crops grow all over the world and are some of the most widely consumed vegetables on the planet. Planting You can grow healthy plants from seeds, bulbs, or transplants. Seeds are a little harder to grow, but they are cheaper. All you’ll need are the right growing conditions and healthy seeds under a year old. Plant your sets in early spring, just before the last frost date. Once you can work the soil in your garden, you can get them in the ground. These vegetables are cold hardy and don’t mind a little frost. Find an area with full sun and rich, well-drained soil. Place each immature bulb or ‘set’ into the soil about 1 or 2 inches deep. Keep the rows over 1 foot wide and space your sets apart by around 6 inches. This will encourage aeration and prevent harmful fungal infections from forming in cramped growing conditions. How to Grow Like other members of the onion family, red onions are incredibly easy to grow. However, there are a few common mistakes to avoid. Read on below to learn more about how to grow these wonderful staple vegetables.

Crocus flowers are bright and beautiful additions to your spring garden. In this guide, garden expert Matt Dursum will show you how to grow them so you get vivid blooms year after year. Crocus are multi-colored flowers that emerge in early spring and sometimes in late fall. They produce short, brightly colored flowers that can light up any temperate garden or yard. These popular flowering plants emerge from tiny structures called corms in the ground. After the bloom, they will keep coming back year after year, requiring little maintenance or extra care. There are several varieties grown for their colors and blooming season. One in particular is the autumn crocus (Crocus sativus), which is commonly known as saffron, the most prized spice in the world. Other flowers include the dark lilac-colored Dutch crocus and the late winter blooming Tricolor crocus. Keep reading below to learn how to grow these magical flowers in your yard and garden. What Is It? Crocus are small, colorful flowers, ranging from yellow and lilac to multicolored. Most varieties bloom in early spring, yet some bloom in autumn. Most grow especially well in cold climates with a lot of snow. Some prefer warmer climates with milder winters. Farmers in ancient Minoan-era Crete and Egypt have grown crocus flowers since around 2,100 B.C.E. They are popular for their early blooms and for producing saffron, one of the world’s most sought-after spices. In many gardens across the US, you can plant this variable and colorful flower and enjoy intense blooms for years to come. Characteristics Crocuses are small flowering perennials that grow from corms which resemble small bulbs in the soil. They come from the iris family, which includes common irises. The plant grows in a variety of conditions, from grasslands to woodlands. In the US, farmers have been growing crocus for centuries, including the spice saffron (Crocus sativus) since the 17th century. These corms flourish in areas with good rainfall and well-drained soil and can survive harsh winters. They are great companions with other spring-blooming flowers, such as tulips and daffodils. Crocus flowers can add an early bright burst of color to your spring garden. They also become one of the first sources of pollen for bees when they bloom, making them a healthy addition to your garden. Native Area Crocus originated in the Mediterranean, Alps, and Southern Europe. Farmers quickly spread them throughout temperate Europe and the Middle East. The word crocus likely originated in ancient Greece with the legend Crocus, a friend of the god Hermes. Many ancient cultures, including Greek, Spanish, Indian, and Middle Eastern, began using the edible stamens of the saffron crocus as a food crop. Saffron soon became an important spice and medicinal crop that spread throughout the region. Today, there are almost 100 identified species of crocus flowers. Their ideal climate is temperate continental, with some species preferring a mild Mediterranean and temperate climate. Planting Crocus flowers grow best when you plant their corms directly in south-facing meadows or lawns or in containers in well-drained soil. Plant the corms with their sharp points up and flat side down at a depth of two to three times the corm height, or three to four inches deep. Space them twice their width apart or more to avoid overcrowding. Get them into the ground up to eight weeks before the first frost of the season. This means in September and October in colder climates and November in southern states like Alabama and Texas. A long, cold winter season will give you extra intense blooms from most varieties. You can plant them in partial shade, but they do best in full sun. You can create a diverse array of flowers if you plant them in groups of ten or 15. As the last frosts hit the soil in late winter and early spring, the plants will emerge. You should get flowers for at least three weeks for most species.

Would you like a beautiful low-growing wildflower for your woodland garden? Wood anemone is a spring-blooming perennial that will brighten a shaded plot with its delicate flowers. Join gardening enthusiast Liessa Bowen as we introduce the wood anemone and everything you need to know to grow your own. More than one species of plant is known as the wood anemone. They are also sometimes called thimbleweed, windflower, or smell fox. Anemonoides quinquefolia, the American wood anemone, is a native wildflower found in eastern North American woodlands. Anemone nemorosa, the European wood anemone, is very similar in appearance but comes from Europe. Both are easy-to-grow members of the buttercup family (Ranunculeaceae). While there are wood anemones from different regions, they look fairly similar and share similar growing requirements. If you can provide their favored conditions, these vigorous plants are easy to grow and don’t require much extra effort. They are also hardy, deer-resistant, and don’t suffer from any notable pests or diseases. Wood anemones are low-growing, clump-forming perennials that make a beautiful addition to your shade garden. Allow them to naturalize for a gorgeous spring display but consider growing them with a variety of shade-loving neighbors to keep your shady garden plot green from spring through fall. Now, let’s dig right into the wonderful world of wood anemone flowers and learn how to grow them and help them thrive. Plant Natural History Wood anemones are woodland wildflowers. They inhabit moist hardwood forests, forest edges, thickets, and clearings. In their natural habitat, they form large colonies like a lush early spring carpet of green dotted with white flowers. They are often found interspersed with other spring woodland ephemeral wildflowers. There are several species of wood anemones from different regions. Anemonoides quinquefolia is native to central and eastern North America. Anemonoides oregana, also known as Oregon anemone, is native to the Pacific Northwest. Anemone occidentalis, also known as the western pasqueflower, is native to western North America. Anemone nemorosa is native to temperate regions of Europe and the Middle East. Characteristics Wood anemones are herbaceous perennials. They are also spring ephemeral flowers. Spring ephemerals are some of the first plants to emerge each year. They bloom early in the springtime and then go dormant again before summer’s end. Wood anemones start to develop leaves in late winter, typically before the surrounding trees are fully leafed out. The first warming days and rising ground temperatures trigger these plants to start growing. The leaves are deeply divided into three to five leaflets with coarsely toothed edges. The leaves are either solid dark green or edged with maroon, depending on the species or cultivar. Plants spread by vigorous root rhizomes to form attractive colonies on the forest floor. These are low-growing plants that make a good ground cover when allowed to spread for a while. As the weather warms into summer, however, the leaves die back into dormancy and remain dormant until the following winter and spring. Soon after the leaves emerge, wood anemones bloom with their delicate yet showy flowers. These flowers come in shades of white, pink, purple, and pale blue, depending on the species. The petals are simple and rounded, arranged in a radial pattern. Some species have as few as five petals, while others have considerably more. Cultivars with double flowers have many more petals, sometimes in varying sizes, arranged in multiple rows.