Did you know..... To grow large onions, it is best to sow the seeds in December in a heated greenhouse.
Step by step guide to growing your own Onions
Where to plant onions
Onions like to be grown in an open site, and prefer a well drained soil. Make sure to dig in well rotted manure or compost prior to planting, at least a good three months beforehand. Don't plant onions in the same patch every year, as crop rotation is very important.
When to plant onions seeds and onion sets
Onion seeds and onion sets are best sown in spring, ready to harvest in the following autumn.
How to sow onions seeds
Onion seeds should ideally be sown in late winter or early Spring, ie February or March, undercover but without heat. Sow the onion seeds in modules of seed or potting compot. These early sown seeds should be transplanted to small pots before hardening off, prior to planting out in mid Spring. Seeds sown during April and May can be transplanted directly into the ground without the need for repotting.
Once seeds have hardened off, plant into the ground at a depth of 2cm, in rows 30cm apart.
How to sow onions sets
Onion sets should be planted in a seed drill, about 2.5cm deep (1 inch), three inches apart. Push the onion sets carefully into the soil, pointed end upwards, and cover with enough soil so that the tip of the onion set is only just visible. Water sparingly if the earth drys out during hot spells. Onion sets are best planted in spring or late summer.
Routine care of young onion plants
Onions should be thinned out once they havce established themselves. Keep an eye on the weeds, and hoe between rows if possible, to keep them at bay. Carefully weed by hand between plants. Don't overwater onion plants, as they will get waterlogged and will be prone to rot and disease. Sometimes you will find that your onions will bolt, or produce a flower on the top of a long stalk, simply cut the flower off.
  
When to harvest onions
Onions are ready to harvest when the leaves turn yellow and start to collapse. Onion seeds sown in early spring should be ready to harvest in late summer or early autumn.
Storing onions for later use
Lift onion bulbs gently out of the ground using a garden fork. If the weather forecast is dry and warm, lay newly pulled onions onto the ground for a couple of weeks to dry out. If it's wet, simply bring them indoors to dry. Onions can be eaten straight from the garden without the drying process, but if you want to store them for later use, then they must be thoroughly dried beforehand or else they will rot. The best way to store dried onions is to make an onion plait, from which your onions can be carefully plucked when required. They can also be placed into a slatted wooden box in a single layer, and left in a cool, dry place, or placed into an onion sack. Which ever way you choose to store your home grown onions, always remember that they need thoroughly drying out and stored with plenty of air circulation, or else they will rot.
Recommended varieties of Onions
Onion Seeds: Bedforshire Champion, Red Baron, Brunswick
Onion Sets: Centurion, Red Baron
Onions for Pickling: Brown Pickling, Paris Silver Skin
Traditional English Recipes using Onions
Sweet Pickled Onions | Onion Chutney |
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Growing Onions in your garden 
