Bedfordshire Champion

Onion ‘Bedfordshire Champion’ has retained its popularity for over a hundred years. This heavy cropping variety produces large globe shaped, golden brown skinned bulbs with crisp white flesh and a mild flavour. This reliable onion is well suited to the UK climate with late summer maturity and excellent storing capabilities. Height: 45cm (18″). Spread: 10cm (4″).

Under cover
Sow onion seeds in modules in mid- to late winter and keep in the greenhouse at 10-16°C (50-60°F). Sow shallot seeds in late winter. Harden off before planting out in spring.
Although one plant per module is effective, growing three to four plants per module saves space. Sow five to six seeds per module and thin out if necessary, to three or four plants. When multi-seeded modules are planted out, the onions form a clump of bulbs.
Outdoors
Once the soil is drier and beginning to warm up, start sowing directly.
Sow onion seeds from late winter until mid-spring 1.3cm (½in) deep in rows 20cm (8in) apart. Thin out first to 5cm (2in) and later to 10cm (4in). Closer planting will result in more bulbs and a heavier crop, but smaller bulbs.
Sow shallots a little bit later from early- to mid-spring. Unlike shallot sets, seed-grown plants will only produce a single bulb. Thin out as required to 2.5-7.5cm (1-3in) apart.