Page 17 - Simply Vegetables Winter 2021/22

Red Onion seed 37-222
GARETH CAMERON FNVS, AND RONNIE JACKSON
Growing 250gms
onions: The Ronnie
Jackson Method
Ronnie Jackson has won at both National and branch shows and, in this articles, shares his method of growing 250gms onions using the seed very kindly donated by Medwyn’s of Anglesey that was distributed in the October magazine. Even if you do not wish to grow exhibition quality onions the techniques set out here will help you to grow good quality onions for the table.
At the end of the previous growing season, he digs out a 1 metre wide trench 45cm deep across the bed (this is similar to the old fashioned double digging which gives a good depth of cultivated soil with easy root access, manure or other organic matter could be added to the trench if required – Ed). Ronnie then works back across the bed digging the rest of the bed with the soil from the
using canes and clips.
In the first week of April add some
fish, blood and bone fertiliser to the onion bed at 100gms/sqm (4oz per sq. yd) and lightly fork in. Empty 10cm pots are then dug into the onion bed (the same size pot as the plants are growing in) so the plants are all at
the same depth when planted. It also makes planting easier as the rootball should fit straight the hole left by the pot. They are planted in Mid to late April at 25cm (9”) apart and the same distance between the rows. From this time onwards they are watered once a week using a hose pipe up and down the rows and all the time ensuring the plants are kept straight and upright by using 10cm rings. Regular spraying is carried to control aphids using Shield Plant Wash and Killermite.
In the October edition of
your magazine, each member received free red onion seed, courtesy of Medwyn’s of Anglesey. I had reported that the seed code was ‘3119’ when in fact the code printed on the packets was actually 37-222. It turns out 3119 is actually the reference number you will see on Medwyn’s on Anglesey’s website when ordering the ‘37-222’ seed. Apologies for any confusion caused.
For all exhibitors, please
note that for the 2022 National Championships in Malvern, this red onion seed is required to
be grown to enter Class 26, the Chairman’s Challenge Shield.
The requirement for this class will be for a plate of 5 onions 250g or less.
Note , as per the NVS Judges and Exhibitors guide, below are the points that can be awarded.
Condition 5, Uniformity 5, Size 2, Shape 3, Colour 2, TOTAL 15 points
To help you grow your onion seed, we are delighted to include an article on how Ronnie Jackson from Cumbria, one of our top onion growers, grows his onions from seed. I’m sure we can all benefit from his experience, thanks Ronnie.
first trench filling the last trench. The soil is then well watered if required.
Keep an eye on the skins
For exhibiting the bulbs are harvested when they are
101⁄4 to 101⁄2 inches
(26 to 26.5cm) in circumference but take them down to the final
The varieties Ronnie
has grown in the past
have mainly been
‘Tasco’, ‘Vento’ and ‘Toughball’ but
has found ‘Tasco’ to have been the easiest to grow (you have Medwyn’s
seed - Ed). The seeds are sown
around the 10th of January (hence the article being in this magazine – Ed) in riddled multipurpose compost and germinated in a temperature of 15 to 21°C. Once they are approx. 5cm high pot into 5cm pots or modules if that is what you have again into multipurpose compost and grow them in good
light and a temperature of 10 to 15°C. The temperature does not have to be high, and the plants are better grown reasonable cool. Water as required but do not keep them too wet and check for any pest or disease problems.
When the plants are established and 10cm high pot them up into 10cm pots, insert a wire or split cane to support the foliage and keep it straight (if onion foliage bends too sharply and is damaged it can restrict the growth and therefore size of the resulting bulb – Ed). As the plants grows keep the foliage straight
skin before measuring. The tops are cut off leaving sufficient to tie later
on and the bulbs lifted carefully and washed. Dry them and once dry place into seed tray’s sitting them on dry sawdust and store them in a spare bedroom (you need to have a good wife!). Keep an eye on the skins and when they are looking dry remove the outer skin and dry again. This skin will be the skin they are shown in so take care not to damage it; unfortunately, sometimes when doing this the bulbs do not ripen properly and may not
be of show quality but will still be perfectly edible. Two to three days before the show the bulb necks are placed in hot water, bent over and then tied with raffia and selected to make up sets for showing. Continue to store them in a cool dry environment in-between shows.
This article is for 250gm onions, if you wish to grow larger onions to give
a higher yield to use in the kitchen the plants could be fed over the summer - Ed
Simply Vegetables 17