Onion family
Where to grow They like sun and rich, really well-drained soil. Getting started Seeds can be sown early in the year under glass, or outdoors once the soil has warmed up a little. However, sets (small onions) are an easier option, and one that I use every year. Problem solving Plant onion sets so they’re buried just beneath the soil surface (if you leave the tips sticking out, blackbirds will uproot them). Space the rows far enough apart to take a Dutch hoe – onions don’t like competition from weeds, so regular hoeing is essential. Never let them go short of water – if they do, they’ll stop swelling and probably start flowering. At harvesting time, leave the bulbs on the soil surface to ripen in the sun so that they store for longer. With spring onions, don’t sow too many in one go – sow a short row every three or four weeks from April onwards. That way you’ll be able to harvest a succession of tender and tasty young plants.