Important: This product & any other product bought along with it will be delivered to you at the start of October 2025.

Description: Electric onion sets are a striking and flavourful choice for home gardeners in Ireland who want to add both colour and taste to their kitchen garden. This vibrant red-skinned variety is ideal for autumn planting, producing beautiful medium-sized bulbs by late spring.

With their rich, sweet flavour and crisp texture, Electric onions are perfect for salads, roasting, and cooking, adding a splash of colour to any dish. They thrive in well-drained soil and cooler Irish conditions, making them a reliable performer in winter-hardy planting schedules.

Electric onion sets also store well, retaining their flavour and freshness for months after harvest, so you can enjoy their unique taste long after the growing season ends.

Benefits of Electric Onion Sets:

Flavour: Sweet and mild with a hint of richness - excellent both raw and cooked.

Colour: Attractive red skins with crisp white flesh add visual appeal to dishes.

Hardiness: Winter-hardy and reliable in cooler Irish conditions.

Storage: Keeps well in a cool, dry place for extended use.

Easy to Grow: Suitable for gardeners of all experience levels.

Available in quantities of: 75 bulbs & 250 bulbs. 

Planting: September to November

Origin: France

Certified Organic: No

How To Grow Electric Onion Sets In Ireland

1. Before you start

• Choose the right spot: Full sun (6–8 hrs). Well-drained soil is essential - use raised beds if your ground gets waterlogged.

• Soil prep: Work in compost and a balanced, slow-release fertiliser. Avoid fresh manure. Target pH 6.0–7.0.

• Crop rotation: Don’t plant onion sets where onions/garlic/leeks grew in the last 3–4 years if possible.

2. When to plant onion sets

• Autumn-planting onion sets (e.g., Senshyu Yellow, Radar, Electric): September–November.Harvest June–July.

3. Planting onion sets

1. Rake soil level and firm lightly.

2. Set each bulb with the pointed tip up, just the tip showing (about 2–3 cm deep).

3. Spacing: 10–12 cm between sets; 25–30 cm between rows. For bigger bulbs, space 12–15 cm.

4. Water in well.

5. Bird protection (optional): Cover with fleece or netting for 2–3 weeks so birds don’t pull up the sets.

4. Early care for onion sets

• Weeding: Keep beds weed-free; onions hate competition. Hand-weed around bulbs.

• Mulch: A light mulch helps moisture retention and suppresses weeds (keep it off the necks).

• Frost: Autumn-planted onion sets are hardy; no special protection needed unless an extreme cold snap is forecast.

5. Watering & feeding

• Water: Steady moisture in spring while foliage is building. Aim for evenly moist, not soggy.

• Feed: A light nitrogen feed in early spring boosts leafy growth. Stop feeding once bulbs start to swell.

• Stop watering when most bulbs have sized up (late spring/early summer) to encourage skins to dry.

6. Common issues (quick checks)

• Bolting (flower stalks): More likely after cold snaps. Snip off flower stalks promptly; those bulbs should be used first (they won’t store long).

• Pests: Onion fly/thrips - use mesh/fleece early, encourage good airflow, and avoid damaged sets.

• Diseases: White rot/downy mildew - practice long rotations and don’t move contaminated soil or tools between beds.

7. Harvesting onion sets

• Signs they’re ready: Tops yellow and fall over, necks soften, outer skins papery.

• Choose a dry spell. Loosen with a fork and lift gently - don’t bruise the bulbs.

• If weather is wet, lift and move to a dry, airy place straight away.

8. Curing (essential for long storage)

• Lay onions in a single layer on racks or newspaper in a warm, airy, shaded spot for 10–21 days.

• They’re cured when necks are dry and skins rattle. Brush off loose soil (don’t wash).

9. Storing your onions

• Trim: Cut roots off and trim tops to 2–3 cm, or braid the tops.

• Where: Cool, dry, dark, well-ventilated place (garage/shed). Avoid plastic bags - use mesh sacks, crates, or braids.

• Temperature: Cool is best (around 4–10°C).

• Check monthly: Remove any soft or sprouting bulbs.

• Use order: Eat any nicked or thick-neck bulbs first; they don’t store as long.

10. Quick calendar (Ireland)

• Sept–Nov: Plant autumn onion sets.

• Apr–May: Weed, water, light feed; remove any flower stalks.

• Jun–Aug: Bulbs size up; stop watering; harvest when tops flop; cure and store.

Pro tips for bigger, better bulbs

• Space a little wider for larger bulbs.

• Keep beds consistently moist in spring, then go dry for curing.

• Rotate crops and keep tools clean to prevent disease.