What are signs of overwatered onions?
Written by
Tina Carter
Reviewed by
Prof. Charles Hartman, Ph.D.When you overwater your onions, those leaves and bulbs signal you'll need to help them out. I had once lost 30 plants in rotten soil before noticing the yellow, limp foliage within a day of rain. Stick your finger in the soil before you water - this time I bought a $7 meter that saved my next crop. Remember, onions enjoy dampness, but not soaking wet, as roots will suffocate.
Above Ground Signs
- Yellow leaf tips progressing downward in 48 hours
- Leaves softer than properly watered plants
- Stunted growth compared to neighbors
Below Ground Damage
- White mold on roots visible when gently lifted
- Bulb base feels like overripe avocado
- Foul sulfur smell from decaying layers
Recovery Tactics
- Stop watering for 7-10 days
- Mix 1 inch (2.5 cm) sand into topsoil
- Apply copper fungicide to prevent rot spread
Rescue efforts commence below ground. Carefully pull a bulb to see roots, healthy roots look like white spider webs. If you find a rotted root - you need to act. Right now, I am mixing 50% perlite into the soil for container onions. I adjust my watering weekly - as the necks soften before harvest, the bulbs will need less moisture.
Avoid repeats using smart irrigation. My drip irrigation system puts down 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water weekly in the root zone and not on the foliage. Heavy clay soil takes 3 inches (7.6 cm) of compost annually. Use a gauge to measure rainfall and subtract it from your watering budget.
Read the full article: When to Plant Onions: Expert Guide for Perfect Bulbs
