Onions

In Florida, traditional bulbing onions should be planted between September and December. Look for short-day hybrids like the sweet-tasting Granex. This is the same type that's sold under the name Vidalia.

You can grow onions from seed, but it's quicker to plant sets. These small bulbs are ready to transplant and give you a head start for an earlier harvest.

Apply a complete balanced fertilizer when you plant. After that, apply a nitrogen fertilizer monthly and irrigate frequently to promote steady growth.

Your onions should be ready to harvest in four to five months, typically when one-quarter of the tops have fallen over.

UF/IFAS Sites

• Five Fall Vegetables for the Home Garden
• Florida Plant ID: Onion

UF/IFAS Publications

• Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide
• Onions Are Nothing to Cry About (PDF)
• Sweet Onion and Strawberry Success in North Florida (PDF)

Also on Gardening in a Minute

• Cool Season Vegetables
• Garlic
• Leeks
• Shallots
• Sweet Onions
• Vegetable Gardening: Most Asked Questions

Other Sites

• Growing Onions--National Gardening Association
• Growing Onions in the Home Garden--University of Georgia Center for Urban Agriculture
• Home Gardening: Growing Onions--Alabama Cooperative Extension Service
• Onion, Leek, Shallot, and Garlic--Clemson (SC) Cooperative Extension