How We Grow Onions with Regenerative Farming Practices
Have you ever wondered how onions grow? At The Farms of Illinois, onions are more than just a tasty vegetable—they’re part of a healthy, chemical-free farming system that’s good for the earth and for you!
You can watch the process of how we plant and grow onions on our Instagram video, and keep reading to learn how our farmers use regenerative farming to grow strong, flavorful onions from tiny sprouts.
From Transplant to Table
It all starts with an onion transplant. A transplant is a small onion plant that has already started to grow indoors. These baby onions are planted outside in early spring. Once in the ground, they begin their journey through three important stages:
Spring Onions – These are young onions with green stalks. They have a mild taste and are often picked early to be eaten fresh.
Fresh Onions – By July, the onions have grown bigger bulbs. These are the kinds of onions you might slice up for a salad or sandwich.
Storage Onions – When the tops turn yellow and fall over, the onions are ready to harvest. After drying, they can be stored for months and eaten through the winter.
But onions don’t grow all on their own—they need healthy soil, sunshine, and lots of care, which is where our regenerative farming practices comes in.
What is Regenerative Farming?
Regenerative farming means taking care of the land so it stays healthy for future generations. It’s all about working with nature, not against it.
Our network of Central Illinois farmers follows this approach. We don’t use chemicals like herbicides or pesticides. Instead, we use:
Compost – This natural fertilizer is made from food scraps and plant materials. It gives the soil the nutrients it needs to feed growing plants.
Mulch – This is a layer of leaves, straw, or wood chips spread on top of the soil. It keeps weeds from growing and helps hold in moisture.
Minimal Tilling – Instead of digging up the soil a lot, we keep soil disturbance low. This helps protect the tiny creatures living underground, like worms and helpful bugs.
Healthy soil is the secret to strong onions. When the soil is full of life, the plants growing in it are, too.
Better for the Farm, Better for You
When farmers take care of the soil, the whole farm benefits. Birds, bugs, and even bees thrive in a rich, healthy environment. This kind of farming also helps the planet by keeping carbon in the soil and reducing pollution in waterways.
The onions our farmers grow with their regenerative farming practices are not just better for the earth—they’re better for you, too! Because they’re grown without chemicals, they’re safer to eat. And because they’re packed with natural nutrients, they taste better and help you healthy.
Purchase Our Regeneratively Grown Onions Online
All of our farmers share the same goal: to grow the most nutritious, flavorful food while protecting the planet. Whether you’re biting into a crunchy spring onion or slicing a storage onion for soup, you’re tasting the result of hard work, natural farming, and love for the land.
At The Farms of Illinois, we believe good food starts with good soil and grows through good care. Purchase our regeneratively grown onions online and get them delivered to your doorstep!