Aside from its important culinary use, this ancient plant has had as many uses as there are days in the year from growing hair to tending gunshot wounds and curing haemorrhoids - just to name a few! One packet sows approx. 5 m (15') of row.
Culture: A sunny site with fertile well drained soil will grow the best onions - work in lots of organic matter such as garden compost, composted manure or peat moss if your soil is sandy or heavy. Sow seeds outdoors from mid April to mid May about8-15mm (1/4-1/2") deep and 15mm (1/2") apart in rows 30-45cm (12-18") apart. Thin after sprouting to 5-7.5cm (2-3") apart for cooking onions and 7.5-10cm (3-4") apart for the sweet Spanish type. Start sweet Spanish types indoors in February - where the growing season is particularly short start all onion seed indoors around this time. Onions can also be started from sets, which are "baby" onions that were started the previous year. Plant sets as soon as the soil can be worked about 5-7.5cm (2-3") apart in rows 30-45cm (12-18") apart. Onions are shallow rooted, so water them evenly through the growing season. Watch for flower stalks and bend over any that do start to encourage larger bulbs. Harvest storage onions when the tops have dried and bent over on their own. If possible leave them lying on the soil for up to a week to cure before storing in a cool place.
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