(Allium cepa) Sweet Spanish type, long day, voluptuously round, yellow globe onion known to perform well in shorter, cooler seasons. Named after an island of solid rock off the coast of England and originally introduced in 1887 by David Murray, gardener for the Marquis of Ailsa. Averages 1-2# (we have pulled 3 pounders!), it is wonderfully sweet, and while not generally thought of as a storage variety, keeps astonishingly well for a sweet onion…at least 3-4 months in proper storage, long after your Walla Wallas have turned to mush.
100-110 days. Long day. UO

Packet: 100 seeds

[split]

Growing Info

SOWING:

Sow indoors from late Feb-mid March, 6-8 weeks before your last frost.

Transplant out 4-6 weeks before the last frost date (April-early May).

Note: Long-day onions are perfect for growing at higher latitudes, north of 35 degrees.

PLANTING DEPTH:

1/4-1/2"

SPACING:

4" spacing in rows 15-24" apart.

EMERGENCE:

7-14 days @ soil temp 60-75F

LIGHT:

Full sun

FERTILITY:

Medium-Heavy. Prefers well-drained, loamy, well-balanced fertile soil with a pH between 6.0-7.0.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

Alliums would like you to keep them well-weeded as they are slow-growing and compete poorly.

Onion bulbing is sensitive to day-length.

Shallow-rooted onions prefer even watering.

Harvest when the tops have fallen over. We sun-cure, placing the bulbs on screens and taking care to cover each one with the next onions leaves.

Sweet Onion 'Ailsa Craig'