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Choosing the Right Onion for Your Garden Posted on 19 Nov 09:01 , 1 comment

If you are interested in growing bulbing onions, it is important to understand the different factors such as temperature and daylight hours. Soil moisture can affect onion bulbing, so even a properly selected variety needs good conditions for success.

From seed, onions usually germinate in 4 to 10 days under optimal conditions.  Soil temperature should be a minimum of 55°F and up to 75°F.

Onions are adapted to a wide range of temperatures and they are frost tolerant. Leaf, root, and bulb development occurs in cool temperatures between 55° to 75°F. Optimal onion leaf growth occurs at 68° to 77°F. Once bulbing has begun onions easily tolerate temperatures higher than 75°F.

 

Daylight hours stimulate the onion plant to start making a bulb.  Different onions require a certain amount of daylight hours.

 

Bulbing Onions are classified as

Long Day

Intermediate day or Neutral

Short Day

 

Long-day onions need about 14 to 15 hours of daylight to bulb. Excellent for Northern Growers (Zone 6 and colder).
In cold regions (zone 5 and colder), plant in early spring as soon as the ground is workable, and harvest in mid- to late summer.

 

Intermediate Day onions start bulb formation at 12–14 hours of daylight. Great for most zones. Plant in early spring in colder regions, in fall in warm regions.


Short-day onions need 10 hours of daylight. Require mild winter climates (Zone 7 and warmer).
Short-day onions: In zone 7 and warmer, plant in fall, grow through winter, harvest in late spring.

Traditional companions for onions are lettuce, tomatoes, and herbs such dill, parsley, or mint. Chamomile and summer savory as companion plants purportedly improve the flavor of onions.

 

Now that you have the info on different factors when growing onions, let's talk about specific varieties

LONG DAY ONIONS

Ailsa Craig

Bianca Di Maggio

Borettana Yellow Cipollini Onion

Red of Florence

Red Torpedo

Southport Red

Southport White

Walla Walla

Yellow of Parma

Yellow Sweet Spanish

 

INTERMEDIATE DAY ONIONS

New York Early Dry

 

SHORT DAY ONIONS

Crystal Wax

Red Burgundy

Red Creole

Texas Early Grano

 

Bunching Onions are not classified by daylight hours and usually mature much earlier. These varieties can be grown in all regions/zones.  These include

Crimson Forrest

He Shi Ko

Evergreen White

 

If you're not sure what to plant of when to plant in your region, we have our
which is packed with helpful planting guides, tutorials and DIY garden projects

 

 

If you have specific garden or seed related questions, please contact us via email at MARY@MARYSHEIRLOOMSEEDS.COM
Happy Planting!


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