THE answer lies in the soil ... ask pensioner Leo Jones who scooped top prize in the Review's onion competition held at Bream's annual flower show on Saturday with a beauty which weighed in at 5.2lbs.
And top junior was Dale Wright, of Newnham, who skinned the opposition to grow one weighing 3.4lbs.
Mr Jones, a former school caretaker, lives at Whittington Walk, Newent. Though aged 74 and confined to a wheelchair he proved that age and disability are no barriers to the enthusiastic gardener.
"I only started growing onions four years ago and now I can't leave it alone," he said.
The secret?
Well it's all about light and heat. Mr Jones uses solar light to fool his onions into believing it is high summer and also has a soil heating kit.
Mr Jones only has a small garden but grows his onions in a raised bed in a mix of soil enriched with compost and loam. He also adds potash and bone meal.
Last year's best effort was a whopper weighing almost 10lbs and Mr Jones also grows and exhibits long carrots and parsnips.
Dale Wright, of Newnham, put his dad, David, in the shade with his top onion to take the junior prize.
"I was pleased Dale did so well and I would like to encourage other youngsters to have a go. If anyone would like any advice I would be only too pleased to help them," said Mr Jones.
Top veggie judge Roy Haviland was pleased with the quality of the entries for the Review competition and said the contestants had done well considering the late start.
•We hope to be back at Bream with a new and even better onion growing competition next year.