Although not quite as sweet as their name implies, candy onions (Allium cepa “Candy”) are nonetheless milder than other pungent, tear-inducing varieties. Following the achievement of other sweet onions, such as Walla Walla for cold climates and Vidalia for warm areas, Candy was bred as a sweet-onion alternative that is adapted into a diversity of spaces.
Onion Types
Bunching onions don’t form bulbs, and are generally called green onions or scallions. Bulbing onion plants begin forming bulbs when daylight hours are of certain durations, known as photoperiods. Based on the specific photoperiod which bulbing types need for bulb formation, onions have been classified as long-day, short-day or day-neutral types. Long-day sorts grow best in cold, northern climates, while short-day types are suited to warmer, southern and coastal areas. Day-neutral types have been bred for achievement in almost all climates. Candy onions have been day-neutral types.
Seeds, Sets and Starts
You can develop your candy onions out of seeds, places or begins. Since seeds take longer to develop to mature plants, most gardeners use sets or begins. Sets are little bulbs, which grow to larger sizes after planting. Starts are little plants which are typically 8 to 10 weeks old, that have not formed bulbs nevertheless. To develop your own candy onion places, start by sowing seeds in the summer. Two to three months after sowing, roll the green stalks, which forces plants to set small bulbs. When the sets are the size of dimes, dig plants and trim stems 1/2 inch above the sets. You will plant these sets the next spring, after keeping them in a cool, dry place.
Culture
You may develop candy onions in almost any soil type as long as it’s rich and has good drainage. Onions are shallow-rooted and may suffer in weedy places. Weeds pull water and nutrients from developing onion crops, which stunts development and hinders a fantastic harvest. Keep garden beds weeded around onions, with shallow cultivation, and therefore you don’t hurt onion roots. Onion plants thrive in raised beds, which include loose dirt and offer good drainage. Onions react well to applications of compost, which you can work in the soil before planting or side-dress along plants.
Harvest and Storage
Harvest candy onions when their green stems fall above and turn brown. A curing procedure is required before you shop onions successfully. After you dig them, remove the dirt and place them in a well-ventilated area until the necks, or the area just above bulbs, are entirely dry, which typically takes two weeks. Root cellars, unheated garages or other cool, dry areas are ideal for keeping onions, which should be in containers that are roomy. Sweet candy onions don’t shop as long as more powerful varieties, but with proper storage it’s possible to extend their shelf life.