Onion Sturon
The low price and wide availability of yellow onions in the shops don't make them a priority for the veg plot, but if you fancy growing your own they're easy and don't take up much space because they can be grown very close together.
We sell onion sets instead of seeds because they're easier to grow and won't go to seed. Sets are dormant baby onions that will spring into life as soon as you plant them, and mature steadily into full size bulbs over the summer.
Sow in the spring, then harvest the whole crop in the autumn to give you an onion supply right through the winter.
Time from seed to plate: 20 weeks
Sowing Calendar
Sow
It's best to sow in March or April. Space your onions at 3in with rows 12in apart. Push them into the soil to leave the tip exposed, then firm the soil around them, and ideally cover the whole lot with twigs because you can find that birds will pull them up to look for worms and bugs nestled in amongst the roots.
Grow
Onions are relatively trouble free once they're growing, just try to hoe/pull out weeds growing between them so they can get access to all the nutrients and water they need.
If any plant sends up a flower stem snap it off!
Harvest
When the leaves yellow and fall over in late summer you know your onions are ready to harvest.
Lift them all with a fork to break the roots and leave them to ripen in the sun until the bulbs are dry and papery on the outside. Then bring them inside to store in cool conditions on shelves, in nets, or you can create a plait from the leaves if you're feeling ambitious. They'll store well right through the winter.