Planting Onion Sets

Onion sets can be planted now, and up to April, into well manure /well raked ground that is also well drained. If your soil is on the heavy/clay side you can lighten it with course sand/grit mixed with organic matter.

Plant the onion sets into the well raked but firmed ground about 4” apart and with rows about 12” apart. (That’s about 10cm and 30cm in new money!)  Plant the sets about 1” deep but just have the very top of the set showing above the ground. If the “tail” of the set is too long snip it off with a scissors, because if you leave them too long birds will pull them out. Weeding is really the only aftercare required as you don’t need to thin out onion sets like you would need to if we had planted seedlings. As onion leaves sprout upwards they don’t really suppress weeds naturally. You can use companion planting not only to ward off pests but to suppress weeds as well. Onion-fly can be deterred by planting Parsley and/or Radishes (a little later!) between the drills of onions. Avoid crushing the leaves of the onions while weeding or if you find the need to thin out your plants – the smell of sap will increase the risk of onion-fly attacks.  Onions shouldn’t   be planted beside peas or beans as the plants won’t do well beside one another. We can hope to harvest this crop around August depending on weather and when planted. The leaves will topple over and start to yellow when ready, I then like to loosen them in the ground with a garden fork and they will start to ripen. The leaves will totally wither/yellow within a week to ten days and can then be lifted and placed on a wire rack to dry out. One local neighbour always placed them on a low lying corrugated iron shed roof – with great results may I say.

While not mad expensive to buy in the shops there’s nothing like growing your own and I think they are always stronger too. I bought the variety STRUTTGARTER RIESEN to try this year from my local supermarket (J C Savage of Swords) for €2.99. Great value! Don’t know how may sets I got but it looks like I’ll be planting all week.

                                                       

              Stuttgarter Riesen                                                                               Lots of Planting ahead!

Don’t be put off planting a little patch of vegetables this year – you don’t need a huge plot .If you don’t have a dedicated vegetable garden , incorporate them into the flower beds, or use containers on the patio or balcony .You’ll be surprised how well they'll do .

Happy Gardening and let me know how you’re getting on.