Onion Seeds,
White Creole

White Creole onions are a short-day variety, ideal for southern regions, so follow a southern schedule rather than a northern spring one: sow the seed in late summer or fall and set acclimated seedlings out over winter. That gives the plants a long stretch of leaf growth before the lengthening days of spring trigger bulbing, and allows the 100 to 120 days this variety needs to size up. Sow 1/4 inch deep and space plants 4 to 6 inches apart. If you’re not sure how to find your area's day length or first and last frost dates, consult our blog post 'Our Experts Answer Questions, Share Resources.'

Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in seed trays or directly into the soil in areas with frost-free winters. Seeds germinate in 7-14 days at temperatures around 60 F. Once seedlings are stocky and well-acclimated, transplant them into rows, spacing plants 4-6 inches apart with 12 inches between rows for optimal bulb formation.

Feed White Creole onions every 2-3 weeks with a balanced fertilizer or compost tea. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Mulch around plants to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Reduce watering when the tops begin to yellow and fall over, signaling the bulbs are ready to cure and harvest.

• Onions will cross with other onions, and occasionally they will cross with scallion types like Welsh onions and Hi Shi Ko bunching onions. Onions will never cross with leeks, chives or garlic.
• If you are growing types that will cross, try to isolate varieties by at least several hundred feet or ideally up to one mile.
• Onions are a biennial seed crop, so you will need to overwinter your first-year roots, ideally by digging them up and storing them for the winter. Replant in early spring, and allow onions to shoot up spikes of purple flowers.
• Let seeds become dry on the plants. Pick seeds when they are hard and dark black, then bring them indoors to finish drying.
• Once dry, separate the seeds from the husks or leave them on and plant them husks and all.