Grow your own Onions
Onions are the unsung heroes of the kitchen, so I always plant enough to last us the year - two sowings are required. They have to be one of the easiest vegetables to grow. So if you're starting out, onions should be a no brainer (hopefully). They make great companion planting too. Carrot root fly and other pests are deters by their pugent aroma.
Like most people, Onions like a sunny and dry spot. Make sure you user plenty of well rotted manure or compost. The ideal soil will be slighty sandy and well draining.
Seeds or Sets?
When it comes to onions you have two choices - you can buy sets (baby bulbs) or you can buy seeds. I am lazy and a fan of buying sets - obviously it's less work and there's less that can go wrong (slugs, onion fly etc).
An advantage of seeds is that you will get a much greater variety of onions to chose from and of course - price. My local Garden centre offers only 1 variety of Onions sets. Once you have grown your first onions leave a couple to go to seed. You'll be able to harvest them and become truly self sufficent in onions! If you have any left over - onion seeds are great on salads.
Sowing
Onions take a long time to grow so if you want bigger onions you need to get them in early. March/April should be fine for your main crop. Rake the soil and then create drills about 30-40cms apart. Place the sets just below the surface of the soil at a distance of 10-15cms. Be sure to put the root side down.
With seeds sow them in seeds trays - about 4-5 per cell should do it. Thin them out then plant out in April. Your home grown onions should be ready to harvest in August.
A great adantage of growing onion is that the leaves can be used in salads. Just pick a few leaves, chop up and enjoy. Don't go mad though they do need some leaves!
Autumn sowings can be made in september /october for you early crop. Thin them out at the start of spring. They should be good to harvest in June.
Harvesting Onions
You can eat the onions straight out of the ground but if you want them to last you need to ripen-off. Pick a a shady, dry and warm place. I use a dry stone wall which has good shelter and always benefits from any breeze. Make sure air can get in and around the bulbs. It will take about two to three weeks for the curing to take place. If you want to braid them a simple french plait will suffice.
Store your Onions in a cool and dark place. Check from time to time for damp or mildew.
Bolting
Be careful you don't let your onions bolt. The onion decides thats it's time to flower and will put all it's energy and goodness into making that happen. Basically once this happens your onion will quickly become a woody and inedible bulb. Keep a close eye out for this as the season goes on - you may lose the crop if your away on holidays.
