Onion Seeds

Homegrown organic onions right from the garden

16 products

We’re Signers of the Safe Seed Pledge!

All of our Peaceful Valley brand vegetable seed packs are CCOF & USDA Certified Organic, in addition to being Non-GMO and Open-Pollinated (with the exception of hybrid seeds).

All Peaceful Valley brand seeds are

Guaranteed To Germinate

Terms & Restrictions Apply
Onion Seeds - Grow Organic

Onion Seeds 

Onions are a staple in many kitchens around the world. Though they are available year-round, they are typically harvested in the late summer or early fall. Onions can be white, yellow, red, or purple, and their taste ranges from sweet to pungent.

While they are most often used as an ingredient in savory dishes, onions can also be used in sweet dishes such as onion jam or caramelized onions. Onion seeds are relatively easy to grow, and many gardeners start their onion plants from seed, which are prepared and planted indoors before being replanting outdoors.

Growing seed onions is a rewarding endeavor for any gardener, offering flavorful and versatile additions to various dishes. Understanding the process from planting seeds to harvesting onions ensures a successful cultivation journey, helping you to produce seed and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Choosing the Right Onion Varieties

To ensure a bountiful harvest of onion seeds, it's essential to select the right variety for your growing conditions. Consider sweet onions for milder flavors, red onions for vibrant color, and bunching onions for versatile use. For optimal results, plant short day onions in early spring and long day onions in regions with extended daylight. Store harvested bulbs in a cool, dry place to maximize their flavor and longevity, and save onion seeds for future seasons. Whether you're growing onions from seeds or onion sets, proper planting and care will yield a successful crop.

Soil Preparation and Fertilization

For successful onion cultivation, start by preparing well-drained, fertile soil that will support robust growth of your onion seeds. Enrich the soil with organic matter and balanced fertilizers to ensure optimal conditions for onions, whether you’re planting sweet onions, red onions, or bunching onions. Maintain soil moisture and pH levels, and avoid planting too close to frost dates to prevent rot and maximize your harvest. Proper soil preparation will help your seeds germinate effectively, leading to a bountiful crop ready for harvesting and long-term storage.

Planting Onions from Seeds:

  • Early Spring Planting: Begin planting onion seeds indoors in early spring, approximately 8-10 weeks before the last frost date in your region.

  • Seed Sowing Techniques: Sow onion seeds in seed trays or pots filled with a quality seed-starting mix. Ensure proper spacing and cover the seeds lightly with soil.

Cultivation Essentials:

  • Light and Temperature: Onions require ample light for optimal growth. Consider using grow lights or providing them with at least 14-16 hours of sunlight per day.

  • Optimal Growing Conditions: Maintain a consistent temperature range between 60°F to 75°F for robust seedling development.

Transplanting and Bulb Formation:

  • Transplanting Seedlings: Once seedlings reach a height of 4-6 inches, transplant them outdoors after the last frost date. Ensure a well-drained soil and proper spacing for bulb development.

  • Bulb Formation: Adequate sunlight and consistent watering contribute to the formation of healthy onion bulbs. Monitor soil moisture to prevent overwatering or underwatering.

Growing Onions from Sets:

  • Alternative Method: Apart from growing onions from seeds, consider using sets (small onion bulbs) for quicker and simpler cultivation. Plant sets directly into the ground in early spring for a shorter growing period.

Day-Neutral Onions and Harvesting:

  • Day-Neutral Varieties: Some onion varieties are day-neutral, allowing them to form bulbs regardless of day length. Choose suitable types for your region and growing conditions.

  • Harvesting Onions: Harvest onions when their tops have fallen over and dried. Gently dig them out, allowing them to dry further before storage.

Long-Term Storage and Usage:

  • Storage Preparation: After harvesting onions, cure them by drying in a well-ventilated area for a few weeks. Trim the roots and tops before proceeding to short term storage. Proper curing is essential for producing high-quality seed and ensuring the best conditions for growing onions in the future.

  • Storage Conditions: For optimal long-term storage, keep cured onions in a cool, dry place with excellent air circulation. This method preserves the quality of your onions and any harvest onion seeds you plan to save for future planting.

Key Tips for Success:

  • Frost Timing: To optimize your onion planting and harvesting, be aware of the frost dates in your region. This will help you plan the best times to sow and harvest onion seeds, ensuring a successful crop.

  • Consistent Care: Regularly water and maintain proper soil drainage to prevent rot and diseases. This consistent care is crucial for healthy onion growth and for producing quality seed. For winter storage, use a paper bag to keep harvested onions dry and safe.

Pest and Disease Management

To protect your onion crops from pests and diseases, it’s crucial to monitor your plants regularly and adopt preventative measures. Ensure proper soil drainage and avoid overcrowding to reduce the risk of rot and fungi. Use organic methods such as neem oil or insecticidal soap to manage common issues and consider crop rotation to minimize soil-borne diseases. By maintaining healthy plants and addressing problems early, you’ll ensure a bountiful harvest of onions, whether you're growing sweet onions, red onions, or scallions.

Growing onions from seeds offers the joy of witnessing their development from tiny seeds to flavorful bulbs ready for harvest. Whether sowing seeds indoors for transplanting or using sets for convenience, proper care and attention to growth stages ensure a rewarding harvest of fresh onions for immediate use or long-term storage.

Why Buy Onion Seeds From Us?

Choose Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply for your onion seeds and leverage our extensive expertise in organic gardening. We offer a diverse range of onion seeds, including red onions, scallions, and short day onions, all meticulously packaged to ensure optimal germination and growth. Our commitment to quality means that whether you're preparing for spring planting or winter crops, our seeds are primed to produce flavorful bulbs and support your gardening success. With our detailed guidance on soil preparation and long-term storage tips, we provide everything you need to grow onions and harvest onion seeds efficiently. Start your journey to a thriving garden today—shop with us and grow onions like a pro!

FAQs: Annie's Perennials

What are perennial plants?

Perennial plants live for more than two growing seasons. If properly cared for, they will return year after year with consistent bloom times to add color and diversity to your garden.

What is the difference between annuals and perennials?

The key difference between annuals and perennials is their lifespan. Annuals live for one growing season, although some of our annual plants do re-seed, thereby prolonging their benefits past a single season. Perennial plants and perennial flowers persist for several years, returning year after year, every growing season. Another difference is that true annuals will bloom throughout the entire season; whereas, perennials may bloom intermittently during or between seasons.

What are the benefits of growing perennials?

Perennial plants and flowers provide lasting beauty and structure to your garden. They have specific seasonal bloom times that remain consistent year after year, ensuring vibrant color for your garden throughout the seasons. Perennials also contribute to biodiversity and help the overall environment. Their deep root systems help prevent soil erosion and retain nutrients, while also sequestering carbon. Planting lots of different perennials with varied bloom times ensures consistent, reliable food sources for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and beneficial wildlife.

When should I buy perennials to plant?

The ideal time to plant perennials is spring or early fall. This allows them to establish their root system before extreme weather.

How do I care for perennial plants?

In general, Perennials need watering, occasional fertilization, and deadheading to encourage repeat blooming. The specific care needs can vary by type. At Annie’s Annuals & Perennials, we offer many native and low water, low-maintenance perennials to make planting and caring for them easy. We want to make gardening success attainable for everyone.

Can you plant perennials in pots or containers?

Yes! We have hundreds of perennial plants that work well in containers as well as in garden beds. Just make sure your pot size is adequate for the root system of your particular plant.

Do perennials require full sun?

Some perennials prefer full sun, which typically means at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Other varieties require full or partial shade. At Annie’s Annuals & Perennials, we offer you many options for both shade and sun plants to fit every gardening need.

Do perennials attract pollinators and wildlife?

Yes! Perennials, with their reliable bloom times, are valuable additions to a pollinator-friendly garden. They provide consistent food sources for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other beneficial wildlife. Planting many different perennials with varied bloom times will attract and feed pollinators throughout all of the seasons.

What are some popular perennial flowers?

Some common perennials include <strong>Yarrow</strong> (Achillea millefolium), </strong>African daisies</strong> (Arctotis) </strong>Butterfly Bush</strong> (Buddleja davidii), <strong>Campanula, Dahlia, Delphiniums, Peonies (Paeonia), Roses (Rosa), Irises, and Coneflowers</strong> (Echinacea). At Annie’s Annuals & Perennials, we offer almost hundreds and hundreds of popular perennials – like the ones previously mentioned, along with more unusual and hard-to-find varieties.

At Annie’s Annuals & Perennials, we also offer many more perennials that are quite unusual and hard to find

What are hardy perennials?

Hardy perennials are perennial plants that grow for multiple seasons and can survive very cold weather in their growing zones. For this reason, hardy perennial plants are the perfect plant selection for any garden.

Do perennials come back every year?

Yes, if planted and cared for properly, perennials will return year after year. At Annie’s, we offer hundreds of perennials that are perfect beginner plants– easy to grow and easy to care for - so everyone can garden successfully.

What are different types of perennials?

Flowering Perennials: Are known for vibrant, consistent and long-lasting blooms. Examples include peonies (Paenonia), roses (Rosa), coneflowers (Echinaea), Abutilon, Alstroemeria, african daisy (Arctotis), foxglove (Digitalis pupurea), carnations (dianthus), geraniums, sages (Salvia), Strawflowers (helichrysum bracteatum), hollyhocks and impatiens, among many others.

Foliage Perennials: Are known for their striking, colorful foliage. Hostas, heucheras, and ornamental grasses are some common varieties.

Shade-Loving Perennials: Thrive in low-light or partial shade conditions. Examples include astilbes, ferns, and bleeding hearts (dicentras). Some of our favorite shade perennials at Annie’s are Begonias, Fuchsias, Sedges, Hellebores, Heucheras, and Impatiens.

Sun-loving perennials: Thrive in full sun conditions (meaning full sun for at least 6 hours per day). Some common examples of sun-loving perennials are lavender (Lavandula), sage (Salvia), African daisy (Arctotis), and yarrow (Achillea millefolium). At Annie’s Annuals & Perennials, we offer almost one thousand sun-loving perennials – like the ones previously mentioned along with more unusual and hard-to-find varieties.

Herbaceous Perennials: These are perennial plants that die back to the ground each Fall or Winter, but whose roots remain alive and send up new growth and reemerge in the Spring or Summer. They include a variety of flowers and foliage, like columbines (Aquilegia), delphiniums, foxglove (Digitalis pupurea), and Iris.

Woody Perennials: These are shrubs and small trees that persist for many years, bringing useful structure and seasonal blooms to your garden. Examples include hydrangeas, California lilac (Ceanothus), fuchsias, and butterfly bushes (Buddleja).

Native Perennials: are well-suited to specific regions and often need less maintenance and human intervention. California native plant species might include yarrow (Achillea), California poppies (Eschscholzia californica), milkweed (Asclepias), monkey flowers (Mimulus), and some sages (Salvias), depending on your location. At Annie’s Annuals & Perennials, we offer one of the largest selections of CA native perennials to be found anywhere.

Long-Blooming Perennials: Have extended blooming periods and can include varieties like Alstroemeria, Abutilon (Flowering Maples), African daisies (Actotis), Agastache, coreopsis, yarrow (Achillea), and sages (Salvias).

Drought-Tolerant Perennials: Can withstand periods of dry conditions and need less watering. Examples include lavender (Lavandula), yarrow (Achillea), sedum (stonecrop), Agastache, Aloe, milkweed (Asclepias), and some sages (Salvias).

Deer-resistant Perennials: Have characteristics that make them less appealing to deer. Options include yarrow (Achillea), lambs' ears (Stachys byzantine), Agastache, and some ornamental sages (Salvia).

Perennial Bulbs: Some perennials grow from bulbs, including favorites like tulips, daffodils, freesias, ranunculus, and irises. They return year after year, adding color to your garden each spring.

Climbing Perennials: Perennial vines like clematis and wisteria add vertical interest to your garden, climbing trellises, arbors, and fences.