ONION ‘White Odourless’ Vegetable Seeds
Botanical Name: Allium cepa
- Intermediate day variety producing large, mild-flavoured white onions.
- Well-suited to Australian climates with autumn sowing and spring to early summer harvest.
- Forms globe-shaped bulbs with clean white skin and a delicate, sweet taste.
- Perfect for fresh use in salads, salsas, sandwiches, or recipes requiring a subtle onion flavour.
- Suitable for medium-term storage when properly cured and kept in a cool, dry place.
- Easy to grow, making it an excellent choice for both home gardens and market production.
Plant Details:
- Plant Type: Biennial, commonly grown as an annual; grows up to 40 cm tall
Sowing Information:
- Sow When:
- Temperate: February – June
- Cool: February – July
- Subtropical: March – June
- Tropical: March – May
- Arid: March – June
- Germination: 7 – 14 days
- Depth: Sow 0.5 – 1 cm deep
- Position: Full sun for strong bulb development
- Sow Where: Direct sow into prepared garden beds or start in trays for later transplanting
- Soil Type: Loose, fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 – 7.0; enrich soil with compost before sowing
- Rows: 30 cm apart
- Spacing: 10 – 15 cm between plants
Details:
- Water consistently to keep moisture levels even and prevent stress on developing bulbs.
- Avoid overhead watering to help reduce the risk of fungal disease.
- Feed with a balanced fertilizer during active growth to encourage healthy bulbs.
Harvest:
110 – 140 days
Growing Instructions
- Prepare soil by incorporating compost and loosening it thoroughly to promote good root growth.
- Sow seeds thinly in rows or start in trays to transplant later.
- For seedlings, sow 8–10 weeks before transplanting and harden off before planting outdoors.
- Keep beds weed-free to reduce competition for nutrients and moisture.
- Reduce watering as bulbs mature to allow skins to dry fully for improved storage life.
Companion Planting
Onion ‘White Odourless’ benefits greatly from companion plants that enhance growth, naturally deter pests, and improve overall garden health. Strategic planting creates a supportive ecosystem, promoting strong bulbs and consistent harvests.
- Carrots: Deep-rooted companion that helps break up soil, improving drainage and nutrient availability for onions. Carrots and onions also repel each other’s common pests, reducing overall insect pressure.
- Beetroot: Complements onions by efficiently using garden space without competing for nutrients. Beetroot helps maintain soil structure and attracts beneficial insects that support healthy onion growth.
- Additional Companions: Lettuce, chamomile, spinach, and herbs such as parsley and thyme improve pest control, enhance pollination, and encourage vigorous, healthy development when planted alongside onions.
Using carrots and beetroot together with Onion ‘White Odourless’ creates a productive, low-maintenance planting system. This combination improves soil fertility, reduces pest damage, and encourages steady, healthy bulb development throughout the growing season, resulting in firm, flavourful onions and a reliable harvest.
