Onion: The Slow Crop That Stores for Months
Onions take 100–120 days from seed, or 60–80 days from sets. They store for months and flavor almost every dish.
Onions are slow but rewarding. They’re also one of the longest-storing vegetables.
Quick Facts
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Days to sprout | 7-14 |
| Days to harvest | 100-120 (seed), 60-80 (sets) |
| Sun | 6 hours |
| Spacing | 4 inches |
| Bulb size | 2-4 inches |
| Flavor | Pungent, sweet when cooked |
Why Grow It
- Stores for months. 4-6 months in cool, dry place.
- Flavor base. Used in nearly every cuisine.
- Easy. Few pests.
- Long season. Plant in spring, harvest in fall.
How It Fails
Failure 1: Bolting. Onions send up a flower stalk. Caused by cold shock or transplant stress. Failure 2: Small bulbs. Too crowded or not enough sun. Failure 3: Rot in storage. Not cured properly before storing.
Comparison
| Type | Days | Storage | Flavor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow | 100-120 | 4-6 months | Pungent |
| Red | 100-120 | 2-3 months | Mild |
| White | 100-120 | 2-3 months | Mild |
| Sweet (Vidalia) | 100-120 | 1 month | Very sweet |
Common Questions
Should I grow from seed or sets? Sets are faster. Seed gives more variety.
Why is my onion flowering? Bolting. Cold shock. Cut the flower, use immediately.
How do I cure onions? Dry in sun 1-2 weeks until skins are papery.
How long do they store? Yellow: 4-6 months. Red/white: 2-3 months.
Can I grow onions in containers? Yes. 8-inch deep pot, 4-inch spacing.
When do I harvest? When tops fall over and start drying.