How to Sow Giant Sweet Brown Onion Seeds
Giant sweet brown onion is a tried and tested popular main crop perfect for a vegetable patch or allotment. Growing giant sweet brown onions from seeds and not from set-grown onions will improve the taste and texture, with a golden brown skin and white centre. For maximum germination rates, ensure a minimum temperature of 20 degrees. Cold onion seeds will not germinate well.
Sowing Information for Giant Sweet Brown Onion
- Choose a sunny and well-drained location in your garden bed or raised bed. Onions prefer a soil pH of 6.0 to 6.8.
- Prepare the soil by removing any weeds, rocks or debris. Loosen the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) using a garden fork or tiller. Mix in some compost or well-rotted manure to improve soil fertility and texture.
- Sow the onion seeds in rows that are 12 to 18 inches (30 to 45 cm) apart.
- Sow the seeds thinly, about 1/4 inch (6 mm) deep, and cover them lightly with soil. Space the seeds about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart.
- Water the soil gently, taking care not to displace the seeds. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. You can cover the sown area with a thin layer of straw or other mulch to retain moisture.
- Onion seedlings should emerge in about 7 to 10 days. When the seedlings are about 4 inches (10 cm) tall, thin them out so that they are spaced about 4 inches (10 cm) apart.
- Keep the soil moist and weed-free, and fertilize the onion plants every 3 to 4 weeks with a balanced fertilizer.
- Brown onion bulbs should mature in about 110-120 days. Harvest the onions when the foliage turns yellow and falls over. Lift the bulbs carefully with a garden fork and allow them to dry in a warm, well-ventilated area for a few days before storing.
