Growing Onions: Sets vs. Seeds, Soil Prep & Harvest Tips

Onions are beginner-friendly, frost-hardy, and store months. Choose sets for reliability, seeds for variety.

Site & Soil

Full sun, well-drained, pH 5.5–6.5. Amend heavy clay with compost/manure. Firm bed before planting.

Mid–late March. 10 cm apart, rows 30 cm. Neck up. Polytunnel for earlier start.

2 cm deep, 1″ apart, rows 30 cm. Thin to 10 cm at 5 cm height. Moist soil essential.

Shallow hoe—onions don’t shade well. Tops yellow/fall = harvest week later. Fork gently. Dry in sun/wind days. Store cool, dry.

Sow April, stagger for continuous crop.

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