The easiest way to grow Onions is to start with “Sets” these are simply small immature onions.

Sets are produced  by sowing onion seed thickly normally in the Summer the plants are allowed to grow just until they start forming bulbs, these immature bulbs lifted and cured like regular onions.

A lot of onion sets are “heat treated ” this means they are subjected to higher temperatures which kills the flower embryo and so prevents the onions “bolting” or running to seed before forming the onion bulb.

Heat Preparation also extends the growth period which means that greater yields can be achieved.

This film shows how to plant sets into a growing bed

You can also plant Shallots and onions in the Autumn

using these varieties