Onion Allium cepa 'Rijnsburger' - Bio 5 m² - Vegetable seeds

Onion seeds need no prior treatment. How to Sow Onion 'Ailsa Craig' F1 Hybrid grows in any soil. If the soil is acid (sandy soil) we recommend adding a little lime. Sow directly into the garden, preferably in a sunny spot, in March or April (as soon as weather allows). Loosen the soil with a fork to at least 30 cm deep. Span a piece of string between two canes to indicate a row. Make a furrow by running a stick along the length of the string. Mix the seed with dry sand and using the thumb and forefinger, sow as thinly as possible along the row - 5-7 cm between seeds. Cover the seeds with 2 cm soil, press lightly down and sprinkle with water. Remove the string and put a marker label at the end of the row. Each row should be 20 cm apart. The seeds will have germinated in about 3-4 weeks and should not require thinning out.

Add fertiliser rich in nitrogen followed a month later by some potash (really!) once the onions are well on their way. Water more often during periods of drought. Keep your onion bed free of weeds – this will help the onions to grow well. Harvesting Your crop is ready when the foliage is yellow or has already dried up in September or October. Harvest with a rake: pull the rake along the row to flip the onions above ground. Shake off excess soil and leave the onions to dry off on the ground (assuming the soil is dry) – otherwise place them in (stacked) boxes in a shed to allow them to dry off.

Onions emit a particular aroma that can make your eyes water when you slice them. Prevent this by storing onions in the fridge until just before using them. If you work quickly, you should not be troubled with watery eyes. If you do not harvest your onions and leave them in the ground, they will sprout again in the spring - except this time they will grow a huge flower stalk with a lovely ball shaped, white flower on the end!