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Description: Radar onion sets are a superb choice for home gardeners in Ireland seeking early, reliable, and flavoursome onions. Renowned for their exceptional winter hardiness, Radar onions are perfect for autumn planting, producing a generous crop of large, golden-brown bulbs by early Summer.

Their mild, sweet flavour makes them a versatile ingredient for countless dishes, from fresh salads to hearty stews. Radar onion sets thrive even in cooler, challenging conditions, making them an ideal choice for Irish gardens.

With excellent disease resistance and strong growth, they’re a dependable variety that stores well, allowing you to enjoy your harvest for months after picking.

Benefits of Radar Onion Sets:

• Flavour: Mild and sweet, complementing both raw and cooked dishes.

• Hardiness: One of the most winter-hardy onion varieties, ensuring reliable growth in colder months.

• Early Harvest: Produces large bulbs ready to lift in late spring/early Summer, extending your onion season.

• Storage: Keeps well for months in a cool, dry place.

• Easy to Grow: Perfect for both beginner and experienced gardeners.

Available in quantities of:

75 bulbs & 250 bulbs. 

Planting: September to November

Origin: France

Certified Organic: No

How To Grow Radar Onion Sets

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.