In My Seed Box For 2026 - Spring Onions

In previous years I have done really well with Spring onions, I used to have two or three with my sandwich most lunchtimes, when my wife was alive. Something that stopped during my cancer treatment in late 2023 and thereafter. A note has been added to my Sowing & Planting Plan for 2026 so I can get Spring Onions going a month earlier than previous years.

The life expectancy of Onion seeds is 2 - 4 years, and most suppliers have a two year gap between packed and sow by date.  

Sow By 2026 

Ishikura (bunching)                 - 375 Seeds - £1.00*       - Wilko - Sow By 2026

Ishikura (bunching)                 - 375 Seeds - £1.00*       - Wilko - Sow By 2026

Ramrod                                   - 250 Seeds - £1.00*       - wilko - Sow By 2026

Ramrod                                   - 250 Seeds - £1.00*       - wilko - Sow By 2026

* Purchased in the Wilko 50% 0ff sale 

Alphabetical Listing of Varieties historically grown 

                                                Sowing            Harvest

Arrow                                     Mar - Apr          Aug - Nov
Feast F                                  Mar - Jul          Jun - Onwards ( Winter hardy) 
Gerda                                    Mar - Jun          May-Dec - Marshalls

Ishikura                                  Mar - May        Jun - Sep - Thompson & Morgan

Ishikura                                  Mar - Jul          May - Oct - Mr Fothergill's

Ishikura                                  Feb* - Jun         12 Weeks after Sowing - Kings Seeds

Lilia                                        Apr - Jul            Jun - Oct

Long White Ishikura               Mar - Jul           May - Oct - Johnsons
North Holland Blood Red       Feb - Jul           Apr - Oct
Pompeii                                  Mar - Jul          Jun - Oct
Purplette                        Mar - Jul          Jun - Oct

Ramrod                                  Mar - Jun          May - Oct - wilco

White Lisbon (Winter Hardy)  Mar - Sep         Mar - Nov - wilco 
White Lisbon                          Mar - Sep         May - Oct - Thompson & Morgan
White Lisbon                          Mar - Jul           May - Oct - Mr Fothergill's

White Star                              Mar - Aug                  - Dobies

White Star                              Sept to overwinter 

* Under Glass 

Sowing Plan for 2026

From 2026 a return to growing in vending machine cups in tray modules and transplanted into the onion beds plant membrane for the new sized raised beds 

Looking at the back of the seed packets, yes I do read them! What I find interesting is the different guidance provided by different seed companies for the same variety of plant. for example, looking at Ishikura Spring Onions from Wilko, Thompson & Morgan & Mr Fothergill

Sowing Outdoors

Mar - May ~ Thompson & Morgan
Mar - Jun ~ Wilko
Mar - July ~ Mr Fothergills

Frequency of Sowing

Wilko &  Mr Fothergills both suggest every 2 - 3 weeks for a continuous supply throughout the summer, interestingly Thompson & Morgan advice is that "The long harvest period means one sowing lasts the whole season!" which is kind of mad as there harvest period is shorter than both Wilko & Mr Fothergills ! Thompson & Morgan also states "Can be harvested pencil-thin or thinner, or left to mature to carrot size" although they don't state what kind of carrot.  

Thinning

Wilko & Mr Fothergills both suggest no thinning is required whereas Thompson & Morgan state it is!

Harvesting

May - Oct ~ Wilko
Jun -  Sep ~ Thompson & Morgan
May - Oct ~ Mr Fothergills

Germination 

Wilko &  Mr Fothergills both state 14 - 21 days and Thompson & Morgan provides no information on germination, I have seen this missing on quite a lot of their packs and it's something I'm and I guess most other gardeners are actually quite interested in.

I know that like Structural Engineers, if you get four or five gardeners together and ask them a question you are likely to get three different answers but until I see what other suppliers of Ishikura Spring Onions have to say, I think I will ignore T&M and go with the guidance from Wilko & Mr Fothergill.

In My Seed Box For 2026 - Index