How To Plant Onions

Step 1: You will need

Step 2: Prepare the site

Loosen the soil with a fork and remove any weeds or large stones. Onion sets should be planted in sunny or partially shaded sites that are sheltered from the wind. They shouldn't be planted in heavy clay soils. Use a landscape rake to create a level surface. If you have poor soil you may want to add organic matter before you start sowing the sets. Use your feet or the head of the rake to firm down the soil as onions grow well in hard soil. Lightly rake the surface once more.

Step 3: Choose your onions

The onion sets should be plump and firm. Discard any that are soft or too small.

Step 4: Sow

An easy way to plant onion sets is to make rows of small holes in the soil. Lay a piece of string on the soil as a guide to make sure you dig the row in a straight line. Use a trowel to dig small holes only as deep as each onion set so the tip is exposed when you replace the soil. Gently firm down the soil around the tips with your fingers. The sets should be planted with the tips pointing upwards and positioned about 10 centimetres apart. Each row should be 20-30 centimetres apart.

Step 5: Water

If you are planting your onion sets in Autumn, you won't need to water them after planting unless the soil is very dry. If you are planting in Spring they may need watering to keep the soil moist.

Step 6: Label

You may want to label your sets so you know where and when they were planted.

Step 7: Leave to grow

If planted in lat Autumn, your onions will be ready to be harvested by late Spring.