onions
These can take up to eight months from sowing to harvesting, depending on when you plant, where you live and which variety you grow. They prefer cooler temperatures in the seedling stage and warm, dry conditions once bulbs start to form. Day length determines when different varieties begin to form bulbs. Early, mid and late season varieties are traditionally planted in succession from early autumn through winter, starting in the warmest areas with the earliest-maturing varieties. Quickmaturing varieties, such as those selected by Kings Seeds, can be sown almost year round in the warmest areas and are ideal for spring and early-summer sowing. Sow seed direct, or to save space, sow them in trays and plant out in spring.
Spring onions
Also known as bunching onions, these can be sown throughout the country from early spring to autumn. Any type of onion can be used as a spring onion – simply use your “thinned” onion seedlings. If you want the best springonions, go for ‘Red Bunching’ and ‘Ishikura’ from Kings Seeds, or those labelled as spring onions.
Leeks
Faster-growing than onions, leeks still need a good six months from sowing to maturity. They’re best sown in warm areas in autumn and cooler areas from early spring to mid-summer. Sow them in trays and plant out when they’re about 20cm tall. Either plant each seedling into a 15cm-deep hole or create a trench and layseedlings along it with the roots resting on the bottom. As you water, the hole (or trench) will fill with soil. Side dress with high-nitrogen fertiliser as leeks grow.
oultiplying leeks
Where space is limited, these can be easily grown in a pot. Stems are similar to spring onions, but form a tight clump and grow year round. Divide the clump and compost them occasionally, and they’ll keep on keeping on.
Garlic
This is traditionally planted on the shortest day and harvested on the longest. However, in warm areas garlic can be planted from oay to the end of winter. In cold areas, start it in pots and plant out once the dangerof frost has passed. It takes six months to mature but can be left in the ground for another year if it’s not ready for harvesting.
Shallots
oilder in flavour than spring onions, shallots are grown in much the same manner as garlic. In a nutshell, it’s very easy to grow. Plant the bulbs 5 to 7cm deep and harvest the tops to use like chives; green bulbs like onions; or dry the bulbs to use like garlic. Replant a few of the smallest bulbs to keep your crop going.
Chives
The prettiest of the edible onions, chives also make the perfect edging. Sow from seed or plant plants any time in warm areas, but wait until spring in cold climes. Flat-leafed garlic chives are hardier and have a mild garlic flavour.
ornamental onions
They may be hard to find, but ornamental onions are a beautiful and worthwhile addition to the summer garden.
ALLIUo CRISToPHII
Produces tall flower stems topped with a loose ball of purple flowers.
ALLIUo GIGANTIUo
Produces the most spectacular flower heads, with tight balls of many tiny purple flowers – fantastic for picking and drying.
ALLIUo ooLY
Is a woodland variety producing golden flower heads held on 30cm-high stems in summer.
ALLIUo RoSEUo
Produces 40cm-high stems topped with heads of pale pink flowers in late spring to early summer.
ALLIUo SPHAERoCEPHALoN
Produces small, cone-shaped heads of tiny purple flowers.
Hot tip
In general, onions and their ilk are heavy feeders, preferring well-drained, compostenriched, fertile soil. Digin well-rotted manure or sheep pellets a few weeks prior to planting.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
