How To Plant Onion Sets In The Garden
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Boilerplate Yield
30 big onions per 3m row
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Spacing
10cm autonomously
30cm between rows
leave tip showing
Onions are a versatile crop, coming in a range of colours for different uses in the kitchen. Onions are a staple in a huge diversity of dishes, from hot curries to soups, salads and tarts. All onion varieties are piece of cake to grow and they store well, besides, and then you can enjoy domicile-grown onions all yr round.
How to grow onions
Y'all can grow onions from seed, merely information technology'southward much easier and quicker to grow them from sets (modest onions). Plant these in autumn or spring, ten-15cm apart in well-prepared, moisture-retentive, fertile soil in full lord's day. Go along the surface area weed free and water in dry out periods. Harvest the onions when they're big enough to eat or the leaf has turned brown and started to wither.
How long do onions take to grow?
Onions require 90-100 days to mature from seed, which is around iv months. From sets, onions are ready to harvest after around 80 days, or just under 3 months.
How to sow onion seed
Sow onion seed indoors as early as January, then they are big enough to institute out in spring. Sow seed in a pot or tray of moist seed compost, most 1cm apart. When the seedlings are a few inches alpine, prick them out and transplant into fresh, peat-free multi-purpose compost. One time established, transplant seedlings into the garden, 10-15cm apart.
How to plant onion sets
Onion sets are available to buy for jump or autumn planting. Almost are heat-treated, meaning they're less likely to bolt (produce flowers), which stops the onions bulking up. Plant onion sets 10-15cm apart, allowing 30cm betwixt rows. Institute them just beneath the soil surface, with only the tips showing, in a moisture-retentive, fertile soil, ideally with plenty of well-rotted organic matter such equally garden compost.
Spotter Monty Don'southward video guide to planting onion sets in modules:
How to intendance for onion crops
In spring, apply a nitrogen-rich fertiliser to autumn-planted bulbs to give them a heave. Water well during dry out spells and remove any flower heads that appear, equally these divert the plant's energy from seedling evolution, to seed production. Onions are shallow rooting, so mitt weed instead of hoeing betwixt the rows.
Growing onions: problem solving
You lot may need to encompass the sets with horticultural fleece, to stop birds pulling them upwardly.
Drooping yellow foliage is the starting time sign of onion fly larvae, just by then they'll already be eating their fashion through the bulb by the time you notice the damage. You lot tin can protect crops the following year, past growing them under fleece. Companion planting parsley among your onions tin can also ward off onion fly.
Onion-neck rot can be a problem in wet summers. Telltale signs are brownish marks and fluffy grey mould. Don't overcrowd when planting, and dry bulbs thoroughly before storing.
Watch Monty Don'due south video guide to identifying white onion rot:
How to harvest onions
Harvest onions as soon every bit they're big plenty to use. The leaves will droop over and turn brown when they've stopped growing. Gently loosen the soil with a fork and lift the onions out of the soil, and leave them to dry on a drying rack or similar, earlier storing.
How to prepare and use onions
Peel and chop onions for soups, stews, pickles and sauces. Sweeter varieties, such as red onions, are best for using raw in salads.
Watch this 20-second video demonstration from our friends at olive magazine on how to chop an onion.
How to store onions
Spread onions and shallots out on newspaper or racks to dry. They're ready when their outer skins rustle when y'all touch them. Hang or string them in nets in a cool, dark, dry out place. They should last for months.
Neat onion varieties to grow
- 'Red Baron' – nice flavour, sweet enough for salads and superb grilled or roasted. A reliable cropper and information technology stores well
- 'Setton' – a expert keeper and easy to peel, with a strong but sweet flavor
- 'Snowball' – the balmy, succulent flesh is perfect for sandwiches and salads. The bulbs store well
Y'all tin can as well see some of our tried-and-tested gardening tools beneath, with a selection of corking kit for planting and support.
Source: https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-onions/
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