At the last Annual Show there were no entries in the heaviest onion class. This gives everybody the

opportunity to win a first prize next year – if they can grow an onion of over 1.5kg in weight.

Traditionally large onion seeds are sown on Christmas Day or Boxing Day. This is obviously not essential

but it is important to give the onions the longest possible growing period to achieve a large size

by show day.

Seeds (Kelsae, Beacon, Mammoth Improved) are sown on moist lightly firmed, multipurpose compost

and covered with a thin layer of fine grade vermiculite or sieved compost. The seed tray needs to be

kept at 18-20C (ideally in a heated propagator) when they should germinate in 7 – 10 days.

After germination gradually acclimatise the seedlings to a ‘greenhouse temperature’ of 10 – 12 C

over 2 to 3 days (if a propagator is used this is best done by removing the top once the seeds have germinated).

This will avoid a check to their growth after pricking out.

Prick out the seedlings when they are just past the loop stage. This helps to avoid excessively long

roots and damage which would check growth. Prick out into 3in. (7.5cm) pots filled with multipurpose

compost and grow in the greenhouse at above 10deg C until April.

Depending on the weather, move the plants into a cold frame to harden off, then plant outside in May.

Plant 18in.(45cm) apart in a bed containing well rotted manure and free from stones, with all the leaves

facing the same way, running down the row. This will make it easier to hoe around the plants and

avoid damaging any of the leaves. Feed with a high nitrogen fertiliser, such as chicken pellets or nitro

chalk, three weeks after planting out and again in July.

Crinkled leaves are a sign of over feeding which can cause splitting of the bulbs. Water in very dry

weather and hoe to keep the bed clear of weeds, but avoid damaging the bulbs.

We hope to see lots of heavyweight onions at next years show and remember you only need one specimen

(over 1.5kg) to enter the class. It should be noted that large onions grown from seed, are not just

for exhibition or boasting about in the Allotment shop, but have a very mild flavour and are ideal for

salads, sandwiches and soups. Even if they are not up to the 1.5kg minimum weight they will not be

wasted.

Committee member Philip Walker looked up this information to try to encourage people to grow for

the show in August

If any one else has any useful tips to pass on it would be nice to include these in future newsletters.