Grow Onions from Discarded Onion Bottoms

Step 2: Slice Off Onion Bottom

Chop off the onion bottom with all the roots still intact.  The more of a bottom you leave on, the better.  Try for 1.5"-2" of attached "meat".

Allow to dry for a few hours to a couple days in a shaded, well-ventilated area to allow for callousing.

Note:  You might only need a few hours for callousing.  If the cut portions are dry to the touch and slightly shriveled, it very well might be calloused enough.

Note:  I'm skipping the dry time for this Instructable.

 

Comments

[micorneus]

"Allow to dry for 1-2 days in a shaded, well-ventilated area to allow for callousing."

Can u elaborate on this statement, why should u let it dry and is it necessary?

ty

[AngryRedhead]

The reason you want to allow callousing is to help prevent disease such as a fungus.  I didn't do it with the example one, and as you can see from the updates, it's still growing and has a few leaves now.  However, you will have a better success rate over time with callousing just a little bit even if it's for a few hours if not for a bit longer.  If the only way you'll try this is to immediately plug them into the ground after cutting, then go with that.  You might have fewer onions than if you'd calloused, but there's no success in not doing it at all.  I've had onions start growing in my compost pile.  Of course, I've also found tomato plants and all sorts of craziness growing around the periphery of the pile, so even a badly neglected compost pile still has its benefits.

Hope it helps!