Grow impressively large and sweet onions with West Coast Seeds Ailsa Craig Onions. These straw-yellow globes can reach up to 20cm (8") in diameter and offer a firm texture with mild, sweet flesh, perfect for salads and sandwiches. With better short-term storage potential than Walla Walla, Ailsa Craig onions are fine-textured and tolerate cold weather, allowing for an earlier harvest compared to other Spanish storage onions. Adapted for northern growers, these onions thrive between the 38th and 60th parallels.
Key Features:
- Large & Sweet: Produces straw-yellow globes up to 20cm (8") in diameter.
- Versatile Use: Mild, sweet flesh ideal for salads and sandwiches.
- Cold Tolerant: Ready for harvest earlier than other Spanish storage onions.
- Open-Pollinated: Reliable and consistent growth.
- Short-Term Storage: Better storage potential than Walla Walla.
Growing Information:
- Matures in: 95 days (Open-pollinated seeds)
- Seed Count: 0.50g - Approx 272 seeds
Timing: Start shallots and storage onions indoors in late winter and early spring, and transplant 2-4 weeks after the last frost date. Overwintering onions need to be started in early summer and transplanted by mid-August. Optimal soil temperature for germination is 21-25°C (70-75°F). Seeds will emerge in 6-12 days, depending on conditions.
Starting Instructions:
- Depth: Sow seeds 5mm-1cm (¼-½”) deep.
- Spacing: Space plants 15cm (6") apart in rows 45-75cm (18-30") apart.
Growing Tips: Ailsa Craig onions thrive in fertile, well-drained soil with full sun exposure. Add well-rotted compost and dig ½-1 cup balanced organic fertilizer into the soil beneath each 3m (10′) of row. Keep moisture high in the top 20-30cm (8-12") of soil. Most of the bulb should form on the soil surface, so do not transplant too deeply.
Harvesting: Stop watering at the beginning of August to mature the bulbs in dry soil. After half the tops have fallen, push over the remainder, wait a week, and lift the bulbs. Cure by spreading bulbs in a single layer in an airy spot out of direct sunlight until leaves are dry and crisp. Store cured onions in mesh sacks or hang in braids in a dry, cool, but not freezing location.
Companion Planting: The pungent odor of onions repels many pests and protects nearby garden vegetables. Plant chamomile and summer savory near onions to improve their flavor. Onions also work well alongside beets, Brassicas, carrots, dill, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, strawberries, and tomatoes. Avoid planting near asparagus or peas.
Grow robust and flavorful Ailsa Craig Onions from West Coast Seeds. Perfect for health-conscious gardeners and culinary enthusiasts, these onions are a versatile and rewarding addition to any garden.
