Spring planting doesn’t start when the air feels warm, It...Read More
Sweet Yellow Spanish Onion is an heirloom onion variety that has been grown in the United States since 1916. This onion produces large, 3 to 6 inch globe-shaped bulbs with a mild and sweet flavor. Utah Yellow Spanish Onions weigh over a pound and have great storage capabilities, lasting well into the fall and early winter when stored correctly. They are easy to grow and have minimal pest or disease issues. These onions are great for eating as well and work great in a large range of preparations and dishes.
NAME: Onion (Allium cepa)
VARIETY: Sweet Spanish, Yellow
DAYS TO MATURITY: 110 – 115 days
POLLINATION: Open Pollinated
TYPE: biennial, grown as an Annual
HARDINESS ZONE: Zones 3 – 10
SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
SOIL: Prefers loam soil with a pH between 6.0 – 7.0
PLANT HEIGHT: 10 – 16 inches
SPACING: 6 – 8 inches
TEMP: 45 – 85 °F
These seeds do not required stratification.
To learn more about Stratification, click here!
Start seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before your average last frost date using cell tray plugs or small 3-inch pots that.
Plant 2 seeds per cell or pot, 1/2 inch deep in a proper seed starting soil mix.
Keep soil moist and temps above 65°F, and the seeds should germinate in 6 to 14 days.
Once germinated, place under grow lights for 12 hours on, 12 hours off.
Transplant seedlings outdoors once temperatures are consistently 50℉ or higher.
As soon as the soil can be prepared, remove rocks, roots and weeds and direct sow in spring when temps are at least 45°F.
Make sure you are sowing into loose, fertile, well-drained soil, in garden beds that receive full sun.
Sandy loam soils are ideal; in heavier soils, use raised beds or raised rows to promote soil drainage.
Sow two seeds 1/2 inch deep, every 4 inches in rows that are spaced 12 to 18 inches apart.
Once seedlings emerge, thin to desired spacing.
Onions take 110 days to mature from seed, which means gardeners with a short growing season may want to start their onion seeds indoors.
Onions are shallow-rooted and grow best with at least 1 inch of water per week via bottom watering or drip irrigation.
If the tops are regularly wet, they are more susceptible to disease.
Ample water is important at all stages of growth, especially when bulbs are forming as they tend to dry out during periods of drought.
Mulching around the onions can help with both moisture and weed control.
Onions are heavy feeders; side dress with fertilizer about six weeks after planting.
When 25% of the onion tops have already fallen over and turned yellow, bend the remaining tops to prepare for harvest; after a few days, pull out the onion bulbs and gently remove dirt and the papery skin on the outer layer.
Lay them out to cure in a single layer in a covered, protected space where temps range between 60°F at night and 80°F during the day, let them sit for about a week, and try not to touch them.
Freshly harvested onions bruise easily, so it’s important to handle them gently and let them cure with minimally disturbances.
Put cured bulbs in a mesh onion bag or old pantyhose and store in a cool, dry area.
Check occasionally for any wet spots or mold and remove any damaged bulbs immediately to protect the rest.
