How to plant onion sets
Find out how to grow autumn onions from sets, in our guide.
Growing onions from sets is far easier than raising them from seed. Plus, planting hardy varieties in autumn gives you a head start over spring-planted sets, as you can harvest the bulbs from June. Planting in autumn also means you're using soil that would otherwise be bare, which helps to retain nutrietns that would otherwise be leached away by winter rains.
When planting sets, don’t force them into the soil as this can damage the base plate where the roots emerge. Use a fork to lift the soil slightly, if necessary.
No open ground? Watch Monty Don plant onion sets in modules:
Follow our guide to growing autumn onions from sets.
You Will Need
- Onion sets
- Trowel
- Hoe
- Rake
Step 1
Prepare the soil well by removing weeds and raking level. Add a slow-release fertiliser if necessary.
Step 2
Use your trowel or hoe to make a drill that is deep enough to sit the onion sets, with just the papery tops above the surface.
Step 3
Cover the onions with raked soil and firm gently, leaving only the tips showing above the ground.