Onion Ailsa Craig

What Onion Ailsa Craig is

Onion Ailsa Craig (Allium cepa L.) is a biennial crop grown for harvest as early as the first year, from the onion family (Amaryllidaceae). This variety produces the largest onion you can grow in a short growing season.

The key is to plant the plants early and never let them slow their growth. Feed them with plenty of nitrogen to get onions weighing up to 1 kg!

However, it does not store for long, so enjoy it after harvesting.

It is added to salads, various dishes and preserves.

Onions contain large amounts of provitamin A, vitamins C, E, K and above all B vitamins, as well as calcium and potassium salts, which de-acidify the body.

The essential oils contained in onion juice have medicinal properties.

Onion from seed is the cheapest and surest way to a large harvest — for spring onions, onion sets or big bulbs for winter.

Key features

• Measured germination rate of the batch: 90%
• Seeds per packet: 42–58 pcs (0.2 g)
• Seed origin: Italy
• Sowing: February – April; direct or seedlings
• Harvest: July – September
• Position: sunny spot

When to sow Onion Ailsa Craig

Onion Ailsa Craig seeds are sown in February – April. Harvest in July – September. The months are a guide for a temperate climate — in warmer areas sow 1–2 weeks earlier, in cooler or upland areas, later.

How to sow and grow Onion Ailsa Craig

• Sowing method: direct or seedlings
• Depth: 1–1.5 cm
• Spacing: 8–10 cm in the row, 25–30 cm between rows
• Germination: 10–14 days at 15–20 °C
• Position: sunny spot

The seeds are sown in spring in rows 30-40 cm apart, at a depth of 1-2 cm. You can sow it in greenhouses or outdoors. This plant requires well-worked soils rich in nutrients to grow well and give abundant crops. After emergence the plants should not be too dense, so they are thinned to a distance of about 25 cm. Onions are ready for harvest from the end of July to the first half of September.

Sow in early spring in loose, weed-free soil. Weed regularly — onions do not tolerate competition. Stop watering 3–4 weeks before harvest.

Harvest and use

The bulbs are harvested when the neck softens and the leaves flop over; dry them in the shade for 2 weeks before storing.

Frequently asked questions

When should Onion Ailsa Craig be sown?

The recommended sowing months are February – April. Sowing method: direct or seedlings.

How many seeds are in the packet?

The packet contains 42–58 seeds, pack size 0.2 g.

What is the germination rate of the seeds?

The measured germination rate of this batch is 90%. The test was carried out under controlled laboratory conditions; in the field, emergence depends on soil, temperature and moisture.

Can a large onion be grown from seed in one year?

Yes — with early sowing (February–March) for seedlings or direct, most varieties form bulbs in the very first year.