Ailsa Craig is an excellent show variety, producing large globe-shaped onions with straw-coloured skin. With its mild flavour and excellent keeping qualities, a must-have variety in your garden or allotment. Suitable for autumn and spring sowing.Onions have anti-bacterial and antiseptic properties, and are also believed to lower blood pressure.

Sow onion seeds from January indoors in good seed compost. Lightly cover the seeds, and water well. Can be sown outside from late March-April, directly into well-prepared soil. Germination takes up to 20 days at 15-20 Celsius.

Prick out the seedlings and plant them into individual pots when large enough to handle.

Make sure that the bulb part of the plant is not covered with compost.Move the plants into a coldframe or unheated greenhouse, to acclimatize to outdoor conditions before planting out to final position. Plant 30-40 cm apart in rich, fertile soil.

Water in the summer during dry spells. When the leaves start to yellow, allow the onions a further two weeks, then lift and store in a cool dry place.