In My Seed Box for 2026 - Onions From Seed

  

I have grown Onions from seeds in the past and was quite successful but for the last few years I have been using sets. I did have problems with white rot on Mill Green Plot 1A and I tried growing on my old plot on Spencer Road and still had white rot problems. 

I think the art is to watch and harvest as soon as one sees the signs of white rot and of course rotate the crops on the plot. I have an additional half plot, I have decided that it's once again time to try growing Onions from seeds. 

In the beds where I have seen some white rot in 2022, I have grown Calient Mustard that's a great organic means of creating a soil environment that's uninviting to the disease. I had a great crop of over 300 onions in 2023 and not so many in 2024, and much less in 2025 due to limited space as I transition from ground level to raised beds.  

Onion seeds only last 2 - 4 years if kept properly, so I have ditched any seeds with a sow by date before 2024, as normally there is only a 2 year allowance by seed companies, and not all seed companies publish the saved end of date on the back of the packets . 

Review of Seed Stock in Packets with sow by Dec 2024

Welsh Onion                    - 250 Seeds - D.T.Brown  -  £2.19 

Review of Seed Stock in Packets with sow by Dec 2025

Onion Galacticus Seeds  - 100 Seeds - Dobies - £3.49

Redlander F1                   - 150 seeds - No Longer Listed -  D.T.Brown 

Review of Seed Stock in Packets with sow by Dec 2026

Redrover F1                     - 150 seeds - £2.99 - Suttons 

Germination  10 - 14 Days

Alphabetical Listing of Onions I have grown in the past 

                                          Sowing           Sowing       Planting          Harvesting
                                          Indoors          Outdoors       Out     

Ailsa Craig                         Dec - Mar                                                Aug - Sept
Bedfordshire Champions                       Mar - Apr                             Aug - Sept
Ciboule Red Dragon                              Mar - Apr                             Aug - Nov
Fasto                                 Jan- Mar       Mar - Apr         April            August - September     
Giant Zittau                                            Mar - May                           July - Sept 
Hylander F1                      Jan - Apr                                                 July - Aug
Red Baron (T&M)                                   Mar - Apr                            Aug - Sept
Red Baron (Fothergill's)    Jan- Mar       Mar - Apr          May           August - September
Senshyu Yellow

Welsh Onion                      Feb - Apr      Mar - Sept                         March - Oct Once Established

In My Seed Box For 2026 - Index

Suttons - Redrover F1 Onions

Suttons have sent me a pack of Red Rover F1 Onions to trial this year. Currently they cost £2.99 for a pack containing approximately 150 seeds  

"Bred for flavour and long-term storage, this deep red onion will store for almost a year!!! Harvested in August, Onion ‘Redrover’ will happily last in a net in a frost-free place until the end of May/June, some lasting until early August. Uniform in shape and size, it not only has exceptional storage, but also has a high tolerance to sprouting, so it won't start growing before you get around to eating it. 

Not as fiery in flavour as a brown-skinned type, but with a mild, sweeter flavour and crunchy texture, it’s suitable for eating fresh in salads and sandwiches, or cooking in your favourite dish. How about trying homemade red onion marmalade? 

Height 35cm (14in). Spread: 20cm (8in)." 

Now up until I read the back of the pack I had never heard of Red Onion Marmalade, and didn't know it existed. Asking on one of my favourite Facebook groups I was informed it was, and they pointed me to a recipe for it. the hyperlink has photos from different people who have made it. 

Prep Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 40 mins Total Time: 45 mins Servings 8 

• Ingredients 2 tablespoons olive oil 
• 1 tablespoon butter 
• 2 large red onions, thinly sliced 
• ¼ cup white sugar 
• 1 cup dry red wine 
• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar 
• salt to taste 

Directions

Heat oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat until butter melts. Add onions and sugar; cook and stir until onions start to caramelize, about 15 minutes.

Pour red wine and balsamic vinegar into the skillet and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until liquid is evaporated, 15 to 20 minutes more. Season with salt.

Sowing Information from the web site page for this onion 

"Direct sow onions outdoors in spring on any firm, well drained soil in full sun. Sow thinly at a depth of 1cm (½") and a distance of 30cm (12") between rows. Prepare the planting area several weeks in advance by incorporating some well rotted garden compost to improve drainage and soil fertility. Avoid planting onions on freshly manured soil. On particularly wet ground, try growing onions in raised beds. When large enough to handle, thin onion seedlings to 10cm (4") apart for medium sized bulbs, or at a slightly wider spacing if larger bulbs are required."

"Alternatively sow onion seed indoors in module trays at a depth of 1cm (½"), using free-draining, seed sowing compost. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a plastic bag at a temperature of 10-15C (50-59F) until after germination which usually takes 10-14 days. Once germinated, grow onions on in cool conditions until all risk of frost has passed and they are large enough to plant outdoors at a distance of 10cm (4") apart. Cover with a protective netting or fleece to prevent attack from birds and insects. Water the plants thoroughly after planting."

Johnsons Exhibition Onions

 

Growth of the Johnsons Exhibition Onion seedlings on the window cill over the last 24 hours. I was disappointed that the pack didn't contain a full 100 seeds, at least put approx. on the pack and adverts. I have 24 cells and was looking at 4 seeds per cell and was 6 missing so that made 96 - 6 seeds = 90 seeds in the pack. 

Thats 10% missing so at least be honest Johnsons or reduce the price by 10%  

In My Seed Box for 2023 - Onions From Seed

 

Updated 26th Dec 2022

I have grown Onions from seeds in the past and was quite successful but for the last few years I have been using sets. I did have problems with white rot on Mill Green Plot 1A and I tried growing on my old plot on Spencer Road and still had white rot problems. 

I think the art is to watch and harvest as soon as one sees the signs of white rot and of course rotate the crops on the plot. Now that I have an additional half plot, I have decided that it's once again time to try growing Onions from seeds. 

In the beds where I have seen some white rot in 2022, I have grown Calient Mustard that's a great organic means of creating a soil environment that's uninviting to the disease.

Review of Seed Stock in Packets with sow by from 2022

Red Baron                       - 175 Seeds - Mr Fothergill's (GYO)     -  Mag  - Sow By 09/2022
Senshyu Yellow               - 400 Seeds - Premier Seeds Direct    -     99p - Sow By 09/2022
Fasto F1                          - 350 Seeds - Marshalls                       -            - Sow By 09/2022

Review of Seed Stock in Packets with sow by Dec 2024

Welsh Onion                    - 250 Seeds - D.T.Brown                     -  £2.19  - Sow By 12/2024

Review of Seed Stock in Packets with sow by Dec 2025

Onion Galacticus Seeds - 100 Seeds - Dobies - £3.49

Welsh Onions - D.T.Brown 

Despite its common name, this perennial onion is widely grown in its native China and Japan. Virtually evergreen, this versatile onion is great for giving a continuous supply of leaves and 'spring' onions through the year, plus white flowers in summer. It has a slightly stronger flavour than chives.



Shallot Simiane - 150 Seeds - Dobies - Cost £2.99 - Packed Year Ending 2021

Germination  10 - 14 Days

Alphabetical Listing of Onions I have grown

                                          Sowing           Sowing       Planting          Harvesting
                                          Indoors          Outdoors       Out     

Ailsa Craig                         Dec - Mar                                                Aug - Sept
Bedfordshire Champions                       Mar - Apr                             Aug - Sept
Ciboule Red Dragon                              Mar - Apr                             Aug - Nov
Fasto                                 Jan- Mar       Mar - Apr         April            August - September     
Giant Zittau                                            Mar - May                           July - Sept 
Hylander F1                      Jan - Apr                                                 July - Aug
Red Baron (T&M)                                   Mar - Apr                            Aug - Sept
Red Baron (Fothergill's)    Jan- Mar       Mar - Apr          May           August - September
Senshyu Yellow

Welsh Onion                      Feb - Apr      Mar - Sept                         March - Oct Once Established

In My Seed Box For 2023 - Index

Kelsea Onion Seeds

The No.1 Exhibition Onion!

New & Exclusive to D.T.Brown

Pack Quantity: 120 Seeds 
Item code: 36613

Dispatched: Within 7 - 10 days  

Click Here for link to D.T.Brown's Kelsea Onion Page 

Years after D.T.Browns mother stock was almost wiped out by a freak hailstorm, their pleased to announce some limited availability of Kelsae onion SEED this season. Ever since that fateful day, they been working with a UK based grower to build up enough stock to be able to offer seed once again. This is an exclusive limited release and you’ve got a chance to be the first to grow this legendary variety from seed for many years.

 
Having just found out that Kelsea onion seeds are available I have acquired a pack, however they are not for growing and harvesting this year, they are for sowing on December 15 or Boxing day at the latest as I want really nice large Kelsea onions in 2023.  

Around the country, the Kelsae has a reputation second-to-none and is one of the mainstays of the show circuit, producing well formed, globe-shaped onions with a glowing red tint to the skin. However, unlike many show varieties it has a wonderful sweet flavour, even when large. Whether you plan to grow for showing or to produce a heavy crop of sweet tasting, mild onions for cooking or eating raw, the Kelsae is the one to grow!

Kelsae is a ‘shy seeder’ which means that germination can be variable, this is why D.T.Brown have been able to offer plants in recent years but not seed. However, this is the first release from their new program and has been thoroughly germination tested to ensure that their high quality standards are maintained. The lab is reporting germination rates of over 90% with this first batch which is almost unheard of!

I have seeds but I'm going to grow them next year as I want to get them in early and this year I have the bases covered re onions with 3 beds worth in the ground. 

Onion Seeds Redlander F1

Onion Seeds Redlander F1 - D.T.Brown - 150 seeds - Sow By December 2025 - Cost £2.99 at time of Blogging. 

I didn't get these seeds for this year as I have a whole lot of sets in the ground over wintering and more coming, I got these for Boxing day 2022 for growing on in 2023 as they are "the world's first downy mildew resistant variety, for reliable crops of delicious red globe onions." 

The web site says "expect excellent yields of mild tasting, large red bulbs which store very well when kept in cool, dark and dry conditions. The bulbs are of good quality and have a mellow flavour which is well suited for serving in summer salads".

In 2023 we will see if what the web site says is true?