Index

• Sowing Instructions (Indoors)
• How to Transplant
• Sowing Instructions (Outside)
• Crop Maintenance
• How to Harvest
• Storage
• Pests & Diseases

Sowing Instructions (Indoors)

• Sowing time: From early spring
• Sowing Location: Indoors in seed trays

• Sow in 3 inch pots or in seed trays, one seed per tray cell
• Sow using a general potting compost and perlite mix at 3:1
• Water soil well before sowing, and keep pots or trays moist at all times
• Sow indoors in January & keep under glass in a bright and warm position

How to Transplant

• Move outdoors in mid April
• Harden plants off one week before planting out
• Soak well before transplanting & do so on a dull day
• Prepare soil prior to transplanting
• Space transplants 10 to 15cm apart
• Take care not to distrub roots when lifting
• Place in hole & firm in well
• Assess regularly for water

Sowing Instructions (Outdoors)

• Sowing time: For main crop onions best to Sow in mid to late spring
• For main crop onions best to Sow in mid to late spring
• Can be sown in autumn & over wintered under a garden cloche but this not advisable in cold regions such as the midlands
• Sowing location: A sunny site with good drainage is ideal
• Sow very thinnly, 1 cm deep
• Space rows 15cm apart

Crop Maintenance

• Water if the soil is dry and cover with soil
• When large enough to handle thin the crop in two stages
• Dispose of all thinnings to avoid attracting the onion fly
• Spacing is important. Close spacing for smaller onions and wider spacing or larger onions
• Dig & manure your soil the previous autumn if possible
• Make sure to remove any large and smaller stones, weeds and weed roots while preparing soil
• It is recommended that you perform a soil fertility test at least once
• Lime the soil if your soil is acidic
• Keep the soil weed free
• Apply a general fertilizer if needed and rake the surface on a dry day
• If your soil is a heavy clay it is recommended that you improve you soils drainage
• Alternatively place a small amount of horticultural grit beneath seeds prior to sowing

Harvesting

• Harvest when the bulbs have swollen and when the stems turns yellow and falls over
• Using a garden fork, slightly lift the onions in their position. lift to snap the onion's roots preventing further growth
• Leave for 14 days and carefully remove on a dry day
• You can speed up the process by bending and tieing the stems once they start to yellow
• On a dry day lift your onions and place them out in the sun
• Depending on the size of your onions and weather conditions it can take up to 4 weeks for the onions to dry

Storage

• Consume any damaged bulbs first
• Short term storage in the fridge
• Can be stored for up to 7 months in a cool dry place
• You can also tie up your bulbs using their own stems or some cord

Pests & Diseases

• Bird attack is most likely the biggest threat to onions
• Netting should be used to protect against birds that pull up roots
• Other pests and diseases include: Onion fly, root fly, bolting and downy mildew