Onion 'Element'

Where to Plant
Plant Onion 'Element' in a sunny, open position with fertile, well-drained soil. Onions prefer neutral to slightly alkaline conditions and don't perform well in strongly acidic soil, so it's worth checking the pH if you know your soil is acidic. Before planting, remove weeds and work in well-rotted garden compost to improve the soil, but avoid planting into freshly manured ground.

Planting
Space plants around 10cm apart, with approximately 30cm between rows. Plant each seedling carefully so the roots are covered but avoid burying the developing bulb too deeply. Gently firm the soil around the roots and water thoroughly to settle them in.

Watering & Feeding
Keep newly planted onions watered while they establish, particularly during dry weather. Once established, water when conditions are dry and pay particular attention as the bulbs begin to swell. Aim for steady moisture without leaving plants sitting in wet soil, as good drainage is especially important through winter.

Onions benefit from fertile soil but don't need excessive feeding. If your soil needs a boost, use a balanced vegetable fertiliser or a feed formulated for onions and garlic, following the manufacturer's recommended rate. Avoid overfeeding with nitrogen, which encourages lush leafy growth rather than helping the plant put its energy into developing a good bulb.

Winter Care
'Element' is a hardy Japanese overwintering onion, selected to grow through the shorter days of winter before putting on stronger growth as conditions improve. Keep the bed weed free so the young onions aren't competing for light, water and nutrients, and make sure excess winter rainfall can drain freely away from the roots.

Looking After Developing Bulbs
As the bulbs begin to swell, keep the area around them clear of weeds and avoid covering the tops with additional soil. Onion roots are relatively shallow, so weed carefully by hand or hoe lightly to avoid damaging them. Once the bulbs are approaching maturity, reduce watering and allow them to ripen naturally.

Bolting
Bolting is when an onion produces a flower stalk before the bulb has properly matured. 'Element' has good tolerance to bolting, making it particularly useful as an overwintering variety. If an occasional plant does produce a flower stalk, use that onion first rather than leaving it for storage.

Pests & Problems
Onion fly and allium leaf miner can damage onions, while fungal diseases can become more troublesome in persistently damp conditions. Keep the growing area weed free, allow enough space for air to circulate and avoid waterlogged soil. Where allium leaf miner is a known problem, fine insect-proof mesh can help protect the crop.

Good Companions
Onion 'Element' can be grown alongside crops such as carrots, beetroot, lettuce and other leafy vegetables. Its upright foliage takes up relatively little space, making onions easy to fit into a productive vegetable plot or raised bed.

Make the Most of Your Plot
Because 'Element' grows over winter and is harvested earlier than many maincrop onions, it makes productive use of ground during a quieter part of the vegetable-growing year. Once your onions have been lifted, the space can be used for another crop later in the season.

Crop Rotation
Onions belong to the allium family, along with garlic, shallots and leeks. Avoid growing alliums in the same ground year after year. Moving them around your plot helps reduce the build-up of soil-borne pests and diseases, particularly onion white rot.

Top Tip:
Keep weeds under control from the start. Onions have relatively shallow roots and narrow leaves, so they don't compete particularly well with weeds for water, nutrients and light.

When to Harvest
'Element' is a very early overwintering onion, with bulbs ready to harvest from late spring into early summer. The main harvest is typically from May to July, although exact timing will depend on planting time, location and growing conditions. Mature bulbs are ready when they've reached a good size and the foliage begins to yellow and naturally fall over.

How to Harvest
Choose a dry spell if possible and gently loosen the soil around the bulbs with a garden fork before lifting them. Take care not to bruise or damage the bulbs, particularly if you intend to store them.

Drying Your Onions
After lifting, allow mature onions to dry thoroughly in a warm, airy place protected from rain. Good airflow is important, so spread the bulbs out rather than piling them together. Once the outer skins and necks are completely dry, trim or tidy the foliage as required.

Top Tip:
If an onion sends up a flower stalk, harvest and use it promptly. Bolted onions don't store as well as properly matured bulbs.

Flavour & Texture
'Element' produces crisp, round onions with an excellent flavour, making it a useful all-round variety to have in the kitchen.

Best Enjoyed
Slice into salads and sandwiches, soften gently as the base for soups, sauces and casseroles, or roast until sweet and caramelised. It's also a great everyday onion for curries, pies, stir-fries and countless other home-cooked dishes.

Preparing Your Onions
Remove the papery outer skin, trim the root and neck and slice, dice or chop according to your recipe.

Storage
Only store sound, fully mature bulbs with dry skins and necks. Keep them somewhere cool, dry and well ventilated, checking occasionally and removing any bulbs that begin to soften or deteriorate.

Plug Plants & Seedlings
Our plug plants and seedlings are healthy young plants ready to grow on or plant into their final growing position, depending on the crop. Handle them carefully when planting, water thoroughly afterwards and keep the soil evenly moist while they establish.

Garden Ready Plants
Our Garden Ready plants have been professionally grown on, making them larger and more established. They're ready to plant straight into their final growing position, giving you a useful head start towards your harvest.

Upon Arrival
Remove your plants from their packaging as soon as they arrive and check the moisture level. Water if needed and plant as soon as possible. If you can't plant immediately, keep them in a sheltered position and don't allow the roots or compost to dry out.