Onion - Bedfordshire Champion
Bedfordshire Champion is the gardeners choice of onion as it is a great all round variety. It produces large, globe-shaped, golden brown bulbs, with excellent keeping qualities. Unfortunately, however, it can be susceptible to downy mildew. One of the most popular crops for the gardener, onions are a huge must for any allotment holder or for the gardener who has their own little vegetable garden at home, as they are so versatile and can be used for a variety of different things.
Sow from February to April. Early sowing can be made under glass in pots or seed trays. Sow seed on the surface of compost and lightly cover with a sprinkling or vermiculite or compost. Keep at the temperature of 14°C. Outdoor sowings can be made in April; sow seed thinly in shallow drills 1.5cm deep, with rows spaced 30cm apart. Greenhouse sown seedlings can be pricked out into individual pots or modular trays. Move plants to a cold frame in April to harden off before planting outside 15cm (6in) apart. Outdoor sowings can be thinned gradually until plants are 15cm (6in) apart , then leave to mature as smaller bulbs for storing. Ready to harvest from August to September.