Onions

Q: How do I grow my own onions?
A: You plant onion sets that you purchase at your local food store or seed supplier. Onion sets are basically small immature onions that grow into full size mature onions in your garden. Yellow onions tend to be sharp in taste but store well over the winter in your cool basement; red onions are less sharp and add color to salads but don’t store as well as yellow onions; white onions are less pungent but are poor keepers.

Q: Can I grow sweet onions in the Midwest?
A: Yes, but it is not all that easy. American onions are usually sold in onion sets (see above) and are pungent but good keepers. European onions, such as the Spanish and Bermuda, are sweeter and larger. In Wisconsin it is possible to grow the Walla Walla sweet onion, which was created specifically for northern climates. You normally have to start the seeds indoors in winter and plant them in early spring.

Q: My recipe calls for a green onion. What type of onion is this?
A: A green onion is known as a bunching onion, because they are grown in bunches. They are long and slender with green stalks and small white bulbs where little roots are attached. Another name for green onions is scallions.

Q: What is a short day onion?
A: During summer, the days in the southern part of the USA are shorter than in the more northern sections (there are less daylight hours). Since onions tend to be light sensitive, some varieties prefer shorter days, such as the White Bermuda and the famous Vidalia. These are known as short day onions and grow well only in southern climates. Onions such as the White Spanish, Red Burgermaster and Walla Walla are long day onions are best grown in northern climates.