Key Features
- Classic onion variety for home vegetable gardens and kitchen gardens
- Produces underground bulbs with crisp, layered flesh and papery outer skins
- Upright green foliage adds attractive structure to edible garden beds
- Suitable for raised beds, garden plots, containers, and small-space growing
- Versatile crop for fresh eating, cooking, soups, sauces, roasting, and pickling
Growing Benefits
- Grow fresh onions at home for everyday culinary use
- A practical vegetable crop for beginner and experienced gardeners
- Fits well into kitchen gardens, raised beds, and containers
- Provides a rewarding seed-to-harvest gardening experience
- Harvest and cure mature bulbs for suitable longer-term storage
Seed Specifications
- Common Name: Onion; Botanical Name: Allium cepa
- Plant Type: Bulb-forming biennial commonly grown as an annual
- Colors: Green foliage with bulb skins that vary by variety; Height: Approximately twelve to twenty-four inches
- Sunlight: Full sun; Soil: Fertile, loose, well-drained soil; Water: Consistent moisture during active growth
- Germination Time: Approximately seven to fourteen days under favorable conditions; Sowing Depth: About one-quarter inch; Spacing: Approximately four to six inches apart
- Growing Zones: Generally adaptable across USDA Zones three to nine, depending on variety and planting schedule; Flowering/Maturity: Several months, depending on variety, day length, and growing conditions; Uses: Cooking, salads, soups, sauces, roasting, grilling, and pickling
Growing Tips
- Choose loose, fertile soil that drains well and receives full sunlight.
- Sow seeds shallowly and keep the soil evenly moist during germination.
- Thin seedlings carefully to provide adequate room for bulb development.
- Reduce watering as the foliage naturally begins to mature and bulbs approach harvest.
Seed Storage
Store seeds in a cool, dry, dark location away from heat, humidity, and direct sunlight. Keep them in a sealed, moisture-resistant container until ready to sow.
Unique Facts About Seeds
- Onion is a member of the Allium genus, along with garlic, shallots, and leeks.
- Onion bulb formation is influenced strongly by day length, making variety selection important for different regions.
- Onions are naturally biennial plants, although they are usually harvested before flowering.
- Mature onion bulbs develop protective outer layers that become dry and papery during curing.