Onion – Ailsa Craig
One of the most reliable show and allotment varieties delivering large globe shaped onions with an attractive gold straw colouring and excellent mild flavour. Storage qualities are superb. Can be sown in spring and Autumn.
Onions from seed are generally better quality than set-grown onions.
Cultivation advice Onion – Ailsa Craig
Days to Germination: 10-12
Days To Harvest: 120
Planting Depth: 1/2″
Spacing, Row: 18″
Spacing, Plant: 5 inches
- Start in early spring indoors / heated greenhouse 8-10 weeks before transplanting outdoors (Jan / Feb).
- Can be sown late summer to over-winter for the earliest crops.
- When transplanting, clip plants to three inches and plant 2 inches deep.
- Can be sown directly when ground has warmed in mid-late spring, at 2-3 seeds per inch, but may struggle to reach full maturity.
- Thin to 5 inches apart when plants are 6 inches tall.
- Harvest by pulling bulbs when tops are brown and dry.
- Fertile, moist soil enriched with compost is best for onion production.
- Onions are claimed to ward off many insect pests around lettuce, cabbage and carrots.
