Ailsa Craig Onion - Allium cepa
Ailsa Craig Onion - Allium cepa
Ailsa Craig Onion - Allium cepa
Allium cepa Ailsa Craig
Onion, Common onion, Garden onion
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This plant carries a 6 months recovery warranty
More information
We guarantee the quality of our plants for a full growing cycle, and will replace at our expense any plant that fails to recover under normal climatic and planting conditions.
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
Harvest
Plant habit
Foliage
Botanical data
Allium
cepa
Ailsa Craig
Amaryllidaceae
Onion, Common onion, Garden onion
Cultivar or hybrid
Annual
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.
Seedlings
Care
Intended location
Planting & care advice
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Hardiness is the lowest winter temperature a plant can endure without suffering serious damage or even dying. However, hardiness is affected by location (a sheltered area, such as a patio), protection (winter cover) and soil type (hardiness is improved by well-drained soil).
In temperate climates, pruning of spring-flowering shrubs (forsythia, spireas, etc.) should be done just after flowering.
Pruning of summer-flowering shrubs (Indian Lilac, Perovskia, etc.) can be done in winter or spring.
In cold regions as well as with frost-sensitive plants, avoid pruning too early when severe frosts may still occur.
The harvesting period indicated on our website applies to countries and regions in USDA zone 8 (France, England, Ireland, the Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...) fruit and vegetable harvests are likely to be delayed by 3-4 weeks.
In warmer areas (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), harvesting will probably take place earlier, depending on weather conditions.
The sowing periods indicated on our website apply to countries and regions within USDA Zone 8 (France, UK, Ireland, Netherlands).
In colder areas (Scandinavia, Poland, Austria...), delay any outdoor sowing by 3-4 weeks, or sow under glass.
In warmer climes (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), bring outdoor sowing forward by a few weeks.
The planting period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a (East Coast and Midlands: Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Portlaoise). It will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the north-west (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal, Westport), delay planting by 1 to 2 weeks in spring and bring it forward by 1 to 2 weeks in autumn compared to the dates given, preferably choosing periods without strong winds.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (Wicklow Mountains, Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, Connemara, Killarney), it is best to plant in spring (April–May) or autumn (September–October), avoiding periods of waterlogged soil in winter and strong winds, which pose the main risk to newly planted trees in these areas.
The flowering period indicated on our website applies to regions in USDA Zone 9a, such as the East Coast and Midlands, including Dublin, Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny and Portlaoise.
This will vary depending on where you live:
- On the west coast and in the northwest (Galway, Limerick, Sligo, Donegal and Westport), it will be delayed by one to two weeks compared to the given dates, due to stronger Atlantic winds and less spring sunshine.
- In the inland hills and plateaus (the Wicklow Mountains, the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, Connemara and Killarney), flowering will be delayed by two to three weeks. Flowering mainly occurs between May and July, with the limiting factors being less frost and more of the excessive humidity, strong winds and lack of sunshine that are characteristic of these areas.
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