We ’ve curated a tilt of 17 of the best onion varieties to grow in your garden . But before we front at it , I wanted to offer some reassurance .
You really ca n’t go wrong ! Any onion harvest can perk up your home menu .
And once you ’ve sampled the subtle or biting flavors and freshness of homegrown varieties , you may never return to store - bought onions . They ’re just that just .
We link to seller to help you chance relevant products . If you grease one’s palms from one of our radio link , we may take in a commission .
The range you could turn is both impressive and convenient for the home cook .
You may prefer scallions , for example – genus Allium fistulosum . These types have rounded stalk with empty greenish peak and they never form bulbs .
They are harvest in spring or fall as a immature Allium cepa harvest .
There are also delicious fresh type , like ‘ Walla Walla , ’ that form bulbs but have voiced necks . They are mild and crunchy , and specify to be eaten within a few weeks of force .
And do n’t dominate storage types ! While they tend to take at least 120 days to get to a harvestable stage when you grow them from seed , different varieties of these bulbing onion plant can be cure to last for months in winter depot .
Any of the bulbing types – sweet or store types – can also begrown and harvest as green onionswhen they ’re unfledged and have n’t yet organize bulbs in the bounce .
If you are raw to growing onions , mark off out our guide to learn more .
Without further ado , let ’s look at some of the best varieties in each of these categories . Here ’s the lineup :
17 of the Best Garden Onion Varieties
First , a immediate recap of what ’s required for produce onion plant in unlike area :
It ’s potential to growA. fistulosum – aka scallions or bunching type – as perennial in zona 4 to 9 and as annuals elsewhere .
But fresh or storage types – A. cepavarieties – form bulbs in response to light , and sure types only originate well in sphere with a certain day length .
While gardeners have to mainly deliberate temperature - driven USDA Hardiness Zones when selecting other vegetable for their area , with onions you also have to face at the numeral of hour of twinkle you receive per daylight base on your latitude as well .
These are thethree twenty-four hour period - length designations :
If you have your nitty-gritty set on uprise bulbing types – and honestly , who would n’t ? – be sure to purchase the proper type of sets , starts , or seminal fluid for your area .
Here are 17 top choices to add oniony goodness to the garden :
Bunching Onions and Scallions
If you wish the idea of perennial genus Allium that grow quickly to a harvestable size in spring and then propagate to form cluster – or bunches – these scallions and bunching Allium cepa variety have you covered . Or should I say , they ’ll cover your veggie patch after a few seasons ?
It ’s also possible to acquire these as annuals and take out the whole harvest home at once . look into out our guide to produce scallions for more tips .
you’re able to imbed a long quarrel of them in a traditional vegetable patch , grow a dozen in a container , or insert a few around other springtime vegetable to maximize a modest - space garden .
Here are three of the best options :
1. Evergreen White Nebuka
These tight - grow scallions produce bunches of long , svelte , supply ship angry walk with hollow green blade at the top .
They farm five to nine inch long and are quick to pull from the soil any time from 65 to 120 days , making them well - suited for spring or fall planting .
‘ Evergreen White Nebuka ’
witness ‘ Evergreen White Nebuka ’ seeds in packet boat and bulkfrom Eden Brothers .
2. Heshiko
If you ’re a big fan of takeout and ramen , this Japanese heirloom has a mild , cherubic texture and can serve as a gateway onion for those just starting to cook with fresh homegrown green goods .
The plants are easy to care for and circulate readily if you may develop them as perennials . You maywant to commence the seeds indoorsin area with a short season .
‘ Heshiko ’ is tasty even if you just chop it to top your favorite Asian takeout food .
Or wipe out the harvest jactitate in stir - french fries , minced to garnish ramen or miso soup , or wise from the garden on a crudites phonograph record .
‘ Heshiko ’
It grows 12 to 14 inches tall with blank stalk that develop an more and more pungent flavour if you leave them in the earth beyond 60 day .
‘ Heshiko ’ seed areavailable from Eden Brothersin packets and in volume .
3. Parade
‘ Parade ’ feature racy , slender white stalks with abstruse green tops , and a balmy flavor .
‘ Parade ’
It ’s a vigorous grower , suitable for cultivation in both warm and nerveless climates . Expect an abundant harvest of 12- to 16 - inch scallions after just 65 days .
Find packet of 1500 seedsavailable at Burpee .
4. Tokyo Long White
A favorite bunching variety,‘Tokyo Long White ’ offer long ashen shuck with inflexible risque - immature tops .
They ’re resistant to hot weather and reasonably cold resistant as well , form them gross for planting in a miscellanea of climates .
On top of that , they offer good impedance against pinkish root disease , smut , Botrytis foliage blight , andthrips . The Incredible Hulk of bunch onions !
‘ Tokyo Long White ’
You ’ll find they take 65 to 100 days to reach adulthood , depending on where you ’re located and when you plant .
Get your cum nowfrom True Leaf Market .
Fresh Onions
Bulbing types bred to feed fresh will take longer to mature than bunch miscellanea , though you may desire to harvest some or all of these cultivars ofA. cepawhen they ’re immature and corrode them asspring onions .
Typically , impudent onions are sweeter than reposition cultivars and provide a pleasant , mild flavor to recipes set out from fried , bread appetizers to homemade jam .
originate a big crop ? programme to portion out these with the neighbors before they go defective , or make a few batches of soup for the freezer .
Our baby site , Foodal , has a no - fail recipe for Instant Pot French onion soup for you to try .
5. Ailsa Craig
What a tasty legacy ! These orb - form , white - fleshed and golden - skinned bulbs are named after the island of Ailsa off the coast of Scotland . They were bring in by the gardener to the Marquis of Ailsa , David Murray , in 1887 .
Och , they are big , averaging two pounds . Perhaps giant onion ring could feature on the bill of fare ? Or a self-aggrandizing pot of mess ?
Also known as ‘ Kelsae Sweet Giant , ’ ‘ Ailsa Craig ’ produces shorter stalks than other variety show , so it can be lay in for a few hebdomad longer than other new character .
‘ Ailsa Craig ’
This prospicient - mean solar day diverseness will be ready to commit from the garden about 110 days from seed .
Find ‘ Ailsa Craig ’ in 200 - seed packetsavailable from David ’s Garden Seeds via Amazon .
6. Italian Torpedo
unmediated strike ! This classifiable fresh variety has marvelous green leaves and forms bulb with pinkish - red skins and an stretch shape .
It span the class of long day and day neutral .
The sweet , tender bod of ‘ Italian Torpedo ’ is a raw add-on to Italian fare from fresh tomato sauce to roast Mediterranean vegetables to pizza , and the variety comes from Tropea in Italy .
‘ Italian Torpedo ’
‘ Italian Torpedo ’ takes about 110 days to reach out due date , and mature bulbs will last at least a month after harvest .
Or , draw in them after about 50 days , once you see the stalking begin to start a fleck , and eat them like pretty pink spring onions .
mailboat of 300 ‘ Italian Torpedo ’ seed areavailable from Burpee .
7. Red Burgundy
This short - day orb eccentric deal about 100 days to mature after sowing . It is best enjoyed in the week after harvest . Its three- to four - column inch bulb are white with red ring and morose red skin .
If the name make you think of Burgundy wine , that ’s appropriate since this onion is perfect in beef Burgundy or any act of other swither , soups , or excite - french fries .
The gloss is also passably made into a agile pickle , toss in unused salads , or chopped as a greaser topping .
‘ Red Burgundy ’
‘ Red Burgundy ’ is an heirloom that offer just resistance against pinkish root disease .
semen areavailable from unfeigned Leaf Market .
8. Utah Yellow Sweet Spanish
How sweet-scented it is ! Sure , ‘ Utah Yellow Sweet Spanish ’ is an Allium cepa , but its flesh adds an almost Malus pumila - like sweet to stews , stir - fries , and – if you ’re feeling lenient – inclination or Allium cepa rings .
‘ Utah Yellow Sweet Spanish ’
This long - daytime cultivar produces huge bulbs in about 115 day that will stay fresh for a few weeks after harvest .
9. Walla Walla
Hurrah for ‘ Walla Walla ! ’ Hailing from Washington State , this popular long - day variety produces veg that count up to two pounds each !
passing cherubic and very meek , they have a higher piss message than some kind . They may be cured but they do n’t typically have a very broad ledge life .
Whether fresh or cured , icebox storehouse is safe . Chopped freezer memory board is another excellent option for this variety if you have a bumper craw .
‘ Walla Walla ’
Bulbs will reach full due date in about 90 days .
Sets of 125 beginning shipped in meter for transplanting in your zona areavailable from Burpeeor you could buy organic ‘ Walla Walla ’ seedsfrom True Leaf Market .
10. White Grano
Big , sweet onions come in poor - daytime varieties , too . ‘ White Grano ’ produces declamatory , white , global medulla oblongata in about 100 day .
‘ White Grano ’
ring of the gentle , mild flesh are tasty on burger , or chop one up to supply to chili or meatloaf and the kitchen will smell heavenly .
‘ White Grano ’ seed areavailable from True Leaf Market .
11. White Sweet Spanish
A thickset blank type , these are complete for fresh summer salad and bring a sweet and subtle flavor to any formula that calls for chopped onion .
Also lie with as ‘ Late White , ’ uprise this cultivar in combining with an earlier variety to have a continual smart harvest .
This prospicient - daytime fresh type require about 110 days to make maturity .
Like all longsighted - daytime type , ‘ White Sweet Spanish ’ is best suited to northerly garden in USDA hardiness Zones 6 or lower .
‘ White Sweet Spanish ’
But southern gardeners can still enjoy growing this variety as an annual . It wo n’t bulb , but a spring harvest of the green onions is delicious .
‘ Sweet Spanish White ’ seeds areavailable from True Leaf Market .
Storage Onions
Growing storage types is a slightly different proposal .
They are luscious and economical since you could often glean pounds of them in the fall , cure them decent , and have agood long memory seasonfor a supply that will last throughout the winter .
They tend to take a farseeing time to maturate , up to six months , and more time to dry adequately after that .
It ’s a good idea to plant seeds indoors or transplant set to get a leap on the season .
If you ’re not a bad fan of a strong onion plant flavor , be aware that even homegrown storage type can be fairly pungent .
If you ’re seeking the farseeing spirit for the onions you grow , these diversity are ideal :
12. Candy
Unlike the typical Halloween or Easter type , this ‘ Candy ’ is a custodian .
An average or solar day - neutral variety , ‘ Candy ’ reliably produces three- to four - inch medulla with light jaundiced flesh and lean , paper - like tegument .
‘ confect ’
These have a mild bite to them but they ’re pleasantly nipping and tangy . They will reach maturity after 85 solar day and are toothsome either wise or cure and take away from storage .
Purchase ‘ confect ’ seeds in packets or in bulkfrom lawful Leaf Market .
Burpee will also shipa 125 - set bundle of ‘ Candy ’ in the proper get season for your area .
13. Crystal White Wax
Can you see a pickling onion in your future ?
A short - day variety , ‘ Crystal White Wax ’ forms small , roundish to oblong - shaped lightbulb complete for pickle . They mature in about 95 years , which is other for most storage multifariousness .
‘ Crystal White Wax ’
With a modest , odoriferous flavour , you’re able to expect these to produce larger bulbs in the south or tiny pearls in the due north . Gardeners in warm climes who wish to bask a pearl - sized harvest can just pick them earlier .
package and bulk seeds areavailable from True Leaf Market .
14. Patterson
be intimate for produce uniform , truehearted , chicken - fleshed bulbs with stalk - colored skins , intercrossed ‘ Patterson ’ medulla oblongata are renowned as the longest - storing variety to grow in your garden .
It ’s a long - day miscellanea , produce three- to four - inch bulb that are crunchy and gently pungent , and they ’re quick to harvest and cure about 104 twenty-four hour period from sowing .
‘ Patterson ’
With proper curing , these will stay fresh in cool storage for up to a yr .
you’re able to purchase 125 - start bundles of ‘ Patterson’from Burpee .
15. Red Creole
You do n’t have to live in Louisiana to grow this four - in , spicy , purple - flesh onion plant , but you do need grow them in a brusk - sidereal day location .
It ’s well - suited to southerly climates and southerly cooking , too – use it chopped in casseroles or simmered in Creole or Cajun sweetheart .
‘ Red Creole ’
‘ Red Creole ’ takes 110 days to mature before harvest and curing . Expect it to last in storage for six or seven months .
cum are useable in various bundle sizesfrom True Leaf Market .
16. Ruby Red
‘ Ruby Red ’ is an heirloom cultivar that get firm , intermediate - sized electric-light bulb with deep purplish skins .
It was introduced to market place in 1964 by Asgrow Seed Company , and being a farseeing - day variety is popular with northern gardeners .
‘ Ruby Red ’
It takes 120 daylight to maturate , and after curing , bulbs will last up to six months in storage .
you could find come useable in a variety of packet sizesfrom Eden Brothers .
17. Yellow Granex
These may look like average yellow onion plant like you might find at the supermarket , but they are popular with home gardener for a ground . Several reasons , actually .
Hybrid ‘ Yellow Granex ’ is resistant to pink root rot , producing three- to four - column inch chickenhearted bulbs with a drop shape , and among storage type , they are think the sweetest .
The crop window for this short - day variety is 110 to 160 days .
They taste great refreshful , but they ’re extra pleasant-tasting when you bring around and lay in them so you could have sweet , mild onion all wintertime .
Grow to Love All the Onions
Once you select the good onion for your field and to become your personal preferences , you ’ll be on your way to growing one of the tastiest , most useful veggie crop for home gardener .
With a niggling love and longanimity and right impregnation and sustenance , you’re able to grow a luxuriously - yielding crop to feed reinvigorated in the outflow and summer or entrepot to enjoy through nightfall and wintertime .
Nothing is good than eating food you take the time to nurture , grow , and harvest . Now get out there ! Happy planting .
And formore oniony good , check out these guides next :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Originally bring out by Leslie M.G. on July 15 , 2018 . Last update August 5 , 2023 . Product pic via Burpee , David ’s Garden Seeds , Eden Brothers , and True Leaf Market . Uncredited picture : Shutterstock .
About
Rose Kennedy
