Pukekohe Longkeeper (late/storage)

🌱 How to Grow Onions From Seed (in Tasmania - check local guide for other states) 1. Sowing Time (Critical for Tasmania) Onions are day‑length sensitive. In Tassie, timing is everything. Late winter–early spring (Aug–Sept): Best for brown and yellow storage onions like Gladalan Brown. Autumn (Mar–Apr): Works for overwintering varieties (e.g., Cream Gold, Early Lockyer types). Avoid mid-summer sowing: They’ll bolt. 🌱 2. Starting Seeds You can sow onions two ways: in trays or direct in the garden. Tray Sowing (best for uniform bulbs) Fill seed trays with a fine seed-raising mix. Sow seeds 5–10 mm deep. Keep moist but never soggy. Germination: 7–14 days. Grow seedlings until they’re 10–15 cm tall (about 6–8 weeks). Harden off for a week before planting out. Direct Sowing Only do this if your soil is fine and weed-free. Sow thinly in rows. Thin seedlings to 10 cm apart once they’re pencil-thick. 🌱 3. Planting Out Onions hate competition and shade. Spacing: 10–15 cm between plants, 30 cm between rows. Soil: loose, friable, well-drained, slightly alkaline. Add: compost + a sprinkle of blood & bone. Avoid: fresh manure (causes thick necks and poor bulbs). 🌱 4. Growing On Onions are slow but steady. Water deeply once a week. Keep weed-free — onions cannot compete. Feed lightly with a nitrogen source early on (e.g., Seasol + PowerFeed). Stop nitrogen once bulbs begin swelling. 🌱 5. Bulb Formation You’ll see bulbs start to swell when: Days get longer Plants reach maturity Soil stays consistently moist Don’t mulch heavily — it can keep bulbs too damp. 🌱 6. Harvesting You’ll know they’re ready when: Tops fall over naturally Neck softens Bulbs have coloured skins Let them sit in the sun for 2–3 days, then cure undercover for 3 -4 weeks. 🌱 7. Storage Brown onions store extremely well. Keep in a cool, dry, airy place. Remove any with thick necks — they won’t store.