How To Sow & Grow Onions
Large Onion and Pickling Onion Varieties
Growing From Seed
To produce the largest onions from seed an early sowing under protection is essential. Sowings can be made as early as December, and for many people Christmas Day afternoon remains the traditional sowing time.
Here at Victoriana we tend to sow our onions in the first two weeks of January, though sowings up to early March will produce very satisfactory results indeed. In fact, sowings as late as late April/early May will still produce a worthwhile crop; they will just not be as large.
Early Sowings Under Protection
Sow seed thinly onto the surface of lightly firmed trays of fresh seed compost. Cover the seed with a thin layer of vermiculite or fresh, sieved seed compost, and lightly firm down. Do not cover too deeply otherwise the seed will fail to germinate.
Water the trays thoroughly and germinate under protection at a temperature of 60-70°F (15-20°C). Once germinated, grow on under protection at a temperature of 45-50°F (7.5-10°C).
When the weather warms up, harden off the seedlings before planting out (see Growing From Young Plants below) by gently 'tearing' apart the young plants in the tray. Alternatively, direct-sow into prepared ground outside from late March until July.
Later Sowings Outside
Sow thinly in drills ¾" (2 cm) deep in rows 12" (30 cm) apart.
For larger onion varieties thin to 9" (23 cm) apart when large enough to handle. For pickling and smaller onion varieties thin to 4" (10 cm) apart when large enough to handle.
Growing From Young Plants (for those purchasing our onion plants, read from here on!)
Set out from late March onwards (the later planting out is left the smaller the resulting onions will be, though worthwhile crops can still be produced from plantings as late as early July).
For larger onion varieties set out 9" (23cm) apart in rows 15" (37.5 cm) apart. For pickling and smaller onion varieties set out 4" (10 cm) apart in rows 12" (30 c m) apart.
Top Tips
Onions grow well on most soils but perform best on lighter soils. They prefer a position in full sun but will tolerate partial shade.
Ensure plants are watered regularly but avoid overwatering as this can both slow their development and reduce their keeping qualities.
Harvesting
Smaller and pickling onions will be ready for harvest between July–September (dependent on sowing time). Larger onions will be ready for harvest between late August–late September, when the top growth starts to bend and die down.
Carefully lift the onions using a hand fork or similar and, if the weather is dry and sunny, leave the onions to dry on the ground. If you are lifting in damp or wet weather dry the onions indoors or in your greenhouse on racking or shelving.
Store onions in cool well-ventilated conditions either tied and hung in plaits or as single layers in trays.
Salad and Spring Onions
Sow thinly in drills ¾" (2 cm) deep in rows 12" (30 cm) apart from mid-March (weather permitting) until early September.
Thin to approximately ½" (1 cm) apart when large enough to handle (and of course eat the thinnings!)
Harvest when they have reached your desired size; the longer they are left in the ground the larger they will become. Use immediately, though they will keep in the fridge for a few days.
Top Tips
Protect early or late crops from frost with cloches or similar.
Salad and spring onions grow well on most soils but perform best on lighter soils. They prefer a position in full sun but will tolerate partial shade.
Keep the crop watered in dry spells as this will stop the onions becoming too bulbous.
Siberian Everlasting Onions
Sow thinly in drills ¾" (2 cm) deep in rows 15" (37.5 cm) apart from mid-March (weather permitting) until early September.
Harvest and use immediately when they have reached your desired size, thinning the row as you go; the longer they are left in the ground the larger they will become.
Always ensure you do not clear all the plants from a row as this will allow them to clump up and regenerate.
As these are winter-hardy they can be kept going from season to season.
7 Results
Onion Seed 'Paris Silverskin' (Pickling)
An excellent multi-purpose onion. Grow, pull and eat as you would for Spring Onions – or leave to bulb up for perfect pickling onions. Gorgeously sweet and crisp.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 100 seeds.
Onion Seed 'Red Brunswick'
A reliable cropping variety. Medium to large red onions are mild and have a gorgeously sweet flavour. Will store well into spring (if you don't eat them before!).
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 75 seeds.
Onion Seed 'Shirley's Giant Exhibition'
One of the largest golden-skinned onion varieties you are ever likely to see. Excellent flavour and very good keeping qualities. A prize-winner in every way.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 50 seeds.
Onion Seed 'Siberian Everlasting'
Sometimes also referred to as the Welsh Onion. Grows into strong clumps that you pull as required. Can regenerate for many years.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 250 seeds.
Onion Seed 'White Lisbon' (Spring Onion)
An old commercial variety that remains unsurpassed. Reliable and fast to grow. Probably the best-known salad onion – and rightly so.
Available Now
Supplied as a packet of approximately 450 seeds.
Onion Plant 'Red Brunswick'
An excellent traditional variety of red onion with a mild sweet taste. Produces a good-sized onion that stores well and has an excellent flavour.
Available from APPROXIMATELY late April / early May
Supplied as as nursery-fresh transplants.
Onion Plant 'Shirleys' Giant Exhibition'
Prize-winning, huge white onions. Individual onions weighing in at 6lbs each! Stores well for winter use and good flavour.
Available from APPROXIMATELY late April / early May
Supplied as as nursery-fresh transplants.
