More frequent sidedressing may be required if the garden is sandy or if leaching rains occur. Watering Water the garden to provide a uniform moisture supply to the crop. The garden should be watered in the morning so that the foliage is dry before dark. Water sufficiently to moisten the soil to a depth a 6 inches. Light sprinklings will encourage shallow rooting of the plants.
Onions are very shallow rooted and moisture stress is very detrimental.
The critical period for moisture is during stand establishment and bulb enlargement. The larger the plants are at the time of exposure to the cold period the higher the incidence of bolting. To produce a long white shank on green onions, move the soil toward the plant. Do not move soil toward the plant of bulb onions. Insect problems may include thrips, armyworms, and cutworms.