FLASH SALES: discover new special offers every week!
Share your pictures? Hide split images
I have read and agree the terms and conditions of service.

Ailsa Craig Onion - Allium cepa

Allium cepa Ailsa Craig
Onion, Common onion, Garden onion

Be the first to leave a review

Shipping country:

Schedule delivery date,

and select date in basket

This plant carries a 6 months recovery warranty

More information

This variety produces giant straw-coloured globe-shaped onions. They have a sweet, mild flavour, and are best eaten fresh. Sow in spring (or autumn in milder climates). Harvest from August to September.   
Ease of cultivation
Beginner
Height at maturity
45 cm
Spread at maturity
10 cm
Soil moisture
Moist soil
Germination time (days)
18 days
Sowing method
Direct sowing, Sowing under cover
Sowing period February to April, September
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Harvest time August to September
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Description

'Ailsa Craig' produces giant straw-coloured globe-shaped onions. They have a sweet, mild flavour, and are best eaten fresh. Sow in spring (or autumn in milder climates). Harvest from August to September.

 

Allium cepa is a popular herbaceous biennial vegetable belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family, alongside chives, garlic, and leeks. It is grown for its edible bulb and occasionally for its stalks. It is thought to be native to central Asia, where it has been grown and consumed for over 6000 years. Traces of onions have also been found in Ancient Egyptian tombs. They were introduced to Western Europe much later by the Romans, then to the Americas during Christopher Columbus’s second voyage.

Onions can be grouped into 3 main categories, based on the colour of their bulb:

- White onions: early-maturing and ideal for pickling

- Yellow onions: ideal for storing, generally eaten cooked in soups and stews etc.

- Red onions: perfect for fresh salads

Onions are an excellent source of minerals and vitamins A, B, and C. They are known for their ability to reduce “bad” cholesterol and lower blood pressure. They develop a sweeter flavour and are easier to digest when cooked. To avoid eye irritation when preparing onions, peel or chop them under the tap or in a bowl of water.

Harvesting: white onions are harvested in spring when the leaves are still green. Coloured onions (yellow and red) are harvested in summer when the onion tops are completely dried out and folded over. Gently lift the bulbs, brush off any excess soil, and leave them to dry in the sun for 2-3 days.

Storage: onions will keep for several months in the right conditions. Cut off the leaves and store the onions in a dark, cool, dry and airy place. If the leaves are strong/long enough, they can be braided together to form attractive bunches and hung from the ceiling. Before storing, check for bruising as it only takes one rotten onion to contaminate the whole crop.

Good to know: onions and carrots are excellent companion plants as onions repel carrot fly. Onions can also be successfully grown alongside beets, strawberries, and lettuce. Avoid growing onions too close to members of the Fabaceae family.

Ailsa Craig Onion - Allium cepa in pictures

Ailsa Craig Onion - Allium cepa (Plant habit) Plant habit

Harvest

Harvest time August to September
Type of vegetable Bulb vegetable
Vegetable colour yellow
Size of vegetable Giant
Interest Flavour, Nutritional value, Productive
Use Cooking

Plant habit

Height at maturity 45 cm
Spread at maturity 10 cm
Growth rate normal

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour dark green
Aromatic? Fragrant foliage when creased

Botanical data

Genus

Allium

Species

cepa

Cultivar

Ailsa Craig

Family

Liliaceae

Other common names

Onion, Common onion, Garden onion

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Annual / Perennial

Annual

Product reference24331

Planting and care

Soil preparation

Onions will grow in most types of soil that are light and well-drained. Onions are very sensitive to excess nitrogen, so avoid growing them on a recently fertilised plot, or after green manures or vegetables from the Fabaceae family (beans, peas, broad beans). Wait about 5 years before growing onions in the same plot.

Spring sowing

Coloured onions (yellow and red) and some early white varieties are direct sown from February to April (or in the autumn in milder climates). Lightly sow in furrows, about 2cm (1in) deep, with 20cm (8in) between each row. Gently cover with soil and water. Germination takes about 18 days. When the seedlings are approximately 5cm (2in) tall (about 2 months after sowing), they need to be thinned out. Keep one plant every 10cm (4in) on average. Harvest during the summer months.

Autumn sowing

White onions are sown in late summer (August-September) in seed trays or pots. Transplant one month later in milder climates, or in late winter elsewhere (February). Leave 20cm (8in) between rows and 10cm (4in) between each plant. White onions are then harvested in the spring.

Care

Hoe regularly, especially at the beginning of planting. Avoid mulching as this can cause the bulbs to rot. Onions are sensitive to excessive humidity, so watering should be kept to a minimum, mainly during sowing and transplanting.

1
7,50 € Bag
17
14,50 € Each
6
19,50 €

Seedlings

Sowing period February to April, September
Sowing method Direct sowing, Sowing under cover
Germination time (days) 18 days

Care

Soil moisture Tolerant
Disease resistance Good
Pruning No pruning necessary

Intended location

Type of use Vegetable garden
Hardiness Hardy down to -29°C (USDA zone 5) Show map
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Soil léger
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Any
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light), 130

This item has not been reviewed yet - be the first to leave a review about it.

Leave a review →

Vegetable seeds

20
11,90 € Seeds

Available in 4 sizes

20
1,50 € Seeds
9
2,90 € Seeds
37
11,90 € Seeds
6
3,90 € Seeds
20
1,90 € Seeds
20
4,50 € Seeds
7
4,90 € Seeds
6
7,90 € Seeds
31
2,50 € Seeds

Haven't found what you were looking for?

We only deliver seed and bulb products to your country. If you add other products to your basket, they cannot be shipped.