Plant sets into firm soil, keep weeds away, and stop feeding and watering once the bulbs swell.
Care
Full sun.
Low-medium — water in dry spells until bulbs swell, then stop so they ripen and store.
Firm, well-drained, fertile soil.
None. Don't bend the leaves over; let them fall naturally when mature.
A general feed before planting and once in late spring; none after midsummer or bulbs store badly.
Onion sets planted in early spring (autumn for hardy overwintering sets), or seed sown in late winter under cover.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- MarchPlant sets with the tips just showing, 10cm apart.
- MayWeed carefully — onions can't compete.
- AugustLift when leaves have fallen and dry the bulbs in the sun before storing.
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- MarchPlant sets with the tips just showing, 10cm apart.
- MayWeed carefully — onions can't compete.
- AugustLift when leaves have fallen and dry the bulbs in the sun before storing.
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- FebruaryPlant sets with the tips just showing, 10cm apart.
- AprilWeed carefully — onions can't compete.
- AugustLift when leaves have fallen and dry the bulbs in the sun before storing.
Months based on climate: Central Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- FebruaryPlant sets with the tips just showing, 10cm apart.
- AprilWeed carefully — onions can't compete.
- AugustLift when leaves have fallen and dry the bulbs in the sun before storing.
Months based on climate: Southern Italy and islands. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. Yellowing leaves and white fluffy fungus on the bulb base.
What to do. No cure; don't grow onions in that soil for many years.
How to spot it. Flower stalk appears.
What to do. Cold spells or planting too early; use heat-treated sets.
How to spot it. Grey fuzz on leaves in wet weather.
What to do. Space for air flow; remove affected leaves.
Questions
Onion: is it hardy?
H4: Hardy through an average UK winter. It survives down to −10 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
Possible, but yields are small; spring onions suit pots better.
Onion: when do you prune it?
None.
When do you feed it?
A general feed before planting and once in late spring; none after midsummer or bulbs store badly. Feeding months, UK: March, May.