ON THE VEG PATCH

PLANT AUTUMN ONION SETS

STEP 1: Choose a bed that was enriched for a previous crop such as potatoes. Raise beds up into ridges to provide better drainage if the soil gets waterlogged in winter. Add a scatter of powdered seaweed if you have it. Top with hydrated lime to adjust pH on acid soils.

STEP 2: Choose firm autumn planting onion sets that haven’t started to sprout. Small sets may be less prone to bolt than larger ones. Plant sets into the ground at 15cm (6in) apart along rows that are 30cm (12in) apart. The top of each set should be just below the soil’s surface.

Cover with fine mesh crop-cover raised up on a frame. Secure edges down well. This allows