Onion Bulbs "Red Baron" AB - 250 g - Allium cepa

The "Red Baron" onion, an early, highly productive variety, offers rounded, dark-red bulbs with a mild, sweet flavor. It won the Royal Horticultural Society's Garden Award of Merit.

• Size 10/21
• Produced in France
• Organically grown

Where and when to plant onion bulbs?

Onions enjoy all types of soil, as long as they are light and well-drained, amended the season before planting, and sunny. In compact, damp soils, favour raised crops on mounds 10 to 15 cm high to facilitate water drainage.

Onions can be planted from October to November in mild-winter regions, or from February to April in colder climates.

How to plant onion bulbs?

To plant onion bulbs correctly and obtain a good harvest:

• draw a furrow, or draw a line, on either side of the cultivation line, spacing each line 20 to 30 cm apart;
• plant bulbils, pointing upwards, 5 cm deep in well-drained soil, every 10 to 15 cm.

Care and maintenance

After planting, onions require little maintenance, and only a few hoeings are needed to eliminate weeds.

Water only in the event of severe drought, and remove the soil around the bulbs with a hoe if humidity is excessive during cultivation.

Lay down the foliage if it is too vigorous as harvest approaches, to encourage the bulbs to mature.

When and how to harvest onions?

Onions can be harvested at any stage of maturity, from April to August, depending on the use and planting date of the bulbs.

Fresh and green onions are harvested from April to June, while those intended for storage are harvested in summer or autumn, when the leaves dry out.

For storage onions, lay down the foliage when it starts to turn yellow. After 2 weeks, lift the bulbs with a fork, then pull them out 15 days later. Leave to dry for 2-3 days in the sun.

Storing onion bulbs

For good storage, it's essential that onions are thoroughly dry. Clean the bulbs with a dry cloth and spread them out carefully on racks or hang them in nets. Store in a cool, dry place.

Onions in the vegetable garden

Avoid planting onions, or other plants in the same family (leeks, garlic, shallots, etc.), in the same place for at least 4 to 5 years.

Companion plants: good and bad associations with onions

In the vegetable garden, onions like to be close to :

• parsnips ;
• turnips ;
• tomatoes ;
• peppers ;
• zucchinis ;
• radishes ;
• strawberry plants ;
• carrots.

Keep away from :

• broad bean ;
• beans ;
• peas ;
• eggplant ;
• potato;
• asparagus.

Onion diseases and pests

This plant can be affected by onion maggot. However, the presence of carrots reduces onion fly infestations. Conversely, onions repel carrot fly.