Growing Exhibition Onions
with John Soulsby
Ready to Grow Something Great?
Growing show-quality onions isn’t just gardening; it’s a craft. With the right guidance, you can learn the techniques that separate good growers from great ones. This course, taught by renowned grower John Soulsby, takes you step by step through the full onion cycle: from saving seed and selecting pips, right through to planting out and preparing for the show bench.
John is recognised as one of the UK’s leading exhibition growers. Known for his record-breaking onions and consistent success on the show bench, he has developed a proven system that produces uniform, high-quality results year after year, and now he’s sharing it with you. If you’ve ever wondered how top growers achieve onions that are uniform in shape, strong in growth, and clean enough for competition, the answer is in their methods.
If you’ve ever wondered how top growers get onions uniform in shape, strong in growth, and clean enough for competition, the answer is in their methods.
In this course, you’ll:
Learn seed-saving and pip techniques for reliable stock.
Master the potting and lighting methods that push plants on without forcing them.
Understand how to keep foliage clean and prevent rot or disease.
See exactly when and how to plant out for size and quality.
Discover how to prepare onions for consistent show results.
Whether you’re aiming for your local village show, building up stock for the future, or just want the satisfaction of growing cracking onions at home, this course gives you the tools and confidence to succeed.
Why This Course?
What You’ll Learn
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Seed, Pip & Bulb Prep:
Collect and store stock safely for next season.
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Setting & Rooting:
Use compost and light to establish strong plants early.
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Seedling Care & Potting Up:
Step through pot sizes with clean technique and steady growth.
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Planting Out & Final Prep:
Move plants into their final beds or pots with confidence, keeping them clean and disease-free.
Who Is This Course For?
What You’ll Need
To follow along, you’ll want:
Shallow trays or 3-litre pots
Fine seed compost & potting compost
Grow lights (optional but useful in winter)
Labels for tracking seed lines
A small watering can with a fine rose
Bleach solution for bulb cleaning
That’s it, simple tools, big results.
Growers who want to step up from kitchen gardening to show-quality results.
Exhibition competitors looking for more consistency on the bench.
Anyone keen to learn tried-and-tested methods from a grower with decades of experience.
You don’t need to be an expert to begin. Every lesson is clear, practical, and explained as if John were showing you in his own greenhouse.
Meet Your Instructor
John Soulsby has built a reputation as one of the UK’s most respected exhibition growers. From record-breaking wins to mentoring countless growers, his practical and no-nonsense methods are trusted by competitors and hobbyists alike.
Through this course, John shares the techniques he has refined over decades, so you can grow with clarity, consistency, and confidence.
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Frequently asked questions
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This course focuses on exhibition onions, particularly long-day varieties like Kelsae. The methods can be adapted to other large varieties, but the system is designed for show-quality growing.
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No. While it’s ideal if you’ve grown onions before, this course is built for all levels. Beginners will learn the process clearly, and experienced growers will pick up refinements to boost results.
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Yes, especially if you want to build your own consistent exhibition stock and learn how to manage plants right through to show standard.
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The course is designed to follow the natural onion growing cycle, so you can dip in month by month as the season unfolds. However, you can also watch all the lessons in one go if you prefer - they’re available on demand, and you can revisit them anytime.
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No specialist kit is required. John shows how to use simple tools like trays, pots, and supports that most growers already have or can buy easily. Grow lights are helpful in winter but not essential, you’ll still get results without them.
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Absolutely. While the course is focused on show-quality onions, the techniques will also give you healthier, larger, and more consistent onions in your home garden. Even if you never plan to exhibit, you’ll still benefit from the same attention to quality.