When to plant
Plant onion sets in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked.
In mild climates, autumn planting is also possible for earlier summer harvests.
Avoid planting in very cold or waterlogged soil.
Where to plant
Choose a sunny, open position with at least 6 hours of direct light.
Onions grow best in vegetable beds, raised beds or deep containers.
Avoid shaded sites — onions need sun to form large bulbs.
Preparing the soil
Loosen soil to 20–25 cm and enrich with compost or well-rotted manure.
Onions prefer fertile, well-drained, crumbly soil with good aeration.
Avoid very fresh manure — it produces too much leaf growth and splits bulbs.
Preparing the sets
Sort through onion sets and choose only firm, dry, undamaged bulbs.
Do not peel or soak them.
If sets have long shoots, trim only the tip — do not cut the growing point.
Planting the sets
Plant sets 2–3 cm deep with the pointed tip just showing above the soil.
Space 10 cm apart in rows 25–30 cm apart.
Firm the soil gently and water lightly.
After planting
Keep the soil lightly moist but never waterlogged.
Protect young sets from birds, which sometimes pull them out while exploring.
During growth
Water regularly in dry spells. Onions have shallow roots and dry out quickly.
Keep the bed weed-free — weeds compete strongly with onions.
Do not mound soil around the bulbs; they should sit partly above the surface as they swell.
After flowering / Harvesting
If onions send up a flower stalk, remove it — flowering reduces bulb size.
Harvest when the tops yellow and fall over naturally.
Lift bulbs, dry them in a warm, airy place for 10–14 days, then trim roots and foliage.
Extra tips
Rotate onion beds yearly to prevent disease.
Onions store best when fully dried and cured.
Water less as harvest approaches to prevent soft bulbs and rot.
Onion cultivars (Centurion, Red Baron, Sturon, Snowball, etc.) all follow the same planting method.
