It’s not too late to plant your early onion sets. From September right through to December, planting now will result in a strong overwintered crop in May to July.
When you plant your sets, ensure that the soil is worked to a fine till. Do not plant on a freshly manured bed and in a spot where you haven’t grown onions for a while to minimise the risk of disease. Space each onion 15cm apart and in rows. Planting your onions in a hatched pattern may look nice, but row planting will be far easier to hoe between. It is important that your onion plot is kept weed free. Make holes for each set and insert them leaving just the tops showing. Don’t push into the ground as this may damage the set resulting in a weaker plant.
If you have chosen to hand pick your sets, select the smaller ones as large sets have a tendency to bolt (produce a flower and reduce edible portion).
You may find that birds or mice pull the sets out of the ground within a few days after planting. This shouldn’t cause any problems, just keep an eye on your onions for the first few weeks, placing them back into their holes. Netting should stop this from happening. To get the most out of your onions, use chicken manure pellets.
Autumn/Winter onions sets to try
Senshyu
One of the original ‘Japanese overwintered’ varieties which has proven successful for many years. Semi flat, more yellow/brown skinned for late June maturity.
Pack size: 250g when packed, sets size between 17-21mm (approx 50 sets), or 14-21mm (approx 75 sets), dependent on weather, harvesting and grading issues.
Echalote Grise (shallot)
Khaki coloured shallot rarely seen in Britain. A gourmet shallot prized in French cuisine with its intense and concentrated flavour.
Originated in Kazakhstan. Pack size: Approx. 500g. Approx. 20 sets.
Electric (red)
Shiny red skinned, semi globe shaped bulbs with pink tinged crisp flesh ideal for salads or in stir fries. Overwintered and ready for harvest early July.
Pack size: 250g when packed, sets size between 17-21mm (approx 50 sets), or 14-21mm (approx 75 sets), dependent on weather, harvesting and grading issues.
T&M’s First Early
Reintroduction of a top customer favourite of recent years. These attractive yellow/brown skinned bulbs will give your first crop of the season.
Pack size: 250g when packed, sets size between 17-21mm (approx 50 sets), or 14-21mm (approx 75 sets), dependent on weather, harvesting and grading issues.
Sturon
Traditional and reliable favourite producing good sized semi-round bulbs with good keeping qualities. RHS Award of Garden Merit.
Pack size: 250g when packed, sets size between 17-21mm (approx 50 sets), or 14-21mm (approx 75 sets), dependent on weather, harvesting and grading issues.
White Lisbon (spring onion variety)
The traditional and most popular Spring Onion for successional sowings. Spring Onion White Lisbon produces long, white stems and bright green tops, and slow to bulb. Spring Onion White Lisbon is delicious when young or a more pungent flavour as bulbs swell. Easy to grow.
Bred to give increased Hybrid vigour, garden performance and flavour, thus increasing your harvest. Due to their wide ranging pest and disease resistance, there will be no need for the use of chemicals, making them ideal for organic gardeners.
