“Winter onions” can mean two different crops: perennial Egyptian or walking onions grown for greens and top sets, or bulb onions sown in late summer to mature the following early summer. They need different planting material and care, so first decide whether you want a lasting bed of greens or a harvest of dry bulbs.
Choose the winter onion you want to grow
| Decision | Egyptian or walking onion | Overwintered bulb onion |
|---|---|---|
| Main crop | Perennial greens and top sets, also called bulbils | Bulbs intended for harvest the following early summer |
| Planting material | Top sets or divisions from established clumps | Seed of a variety specifically suited to overwintering |
| Timing in cited guidance | Plant top sets in August; divide clumps in March or April | Sow seed in mid- to late August |
| Winter care | Keep as a perennial bed; mulch to suppress weeds and protect from extreme cold | Apply mulch late in the year to reduce winter damage |
| Harvest | Take greens as needed; retain top sets or divide clumps to propagate | Harvest when tops fall over, then cure the bulbs |
| Location caveat | Local winter conditions still affect establishment | Climate, day length and variety determine whether bulbs form and survive winter |
How to grow Egyptian or walking onions
Walking onions (Allium cepa var. proliferum) are hardy perennial onions that produce small bulbils at the tops of their stems. Plant the bulbils, or top sets, about 1 inch deep and 4–5 inches apart in August. Alternatively, divide an established clump and transplant the divisions in March or April. These are Illinois Extension’s recommendations, not universal dates for every climate. ( Illinois Extension )
Give the bed a permanent place at the edge of the garden: the plants persist rather than behaving like a one-season bulb crop. Top sets can be difficult to find and may come from specialty seed suppliers or other gardeners. Look specifically for Egyptian or walking onion bulbils, not ordinary bulb onion sets.
Harvest the greens as you need them. Keep some top sets or divide clumps if you want to expand or renew the planting; Illinois Extension does not specify a detailed greens-harvest calendar.
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- Includes a colorful mix of red, white, and yellow onion sets with intermediate-day, day-neutral, and long-day varieties for USDA Zones 3–10.
- HARVEST AT ANY STAGE: Pick tender green onions early in the season or let bulbs fully mature into full-size onions ideal for cooking, storage, and long-term use.
- Simply plant sets 3–6 inches apart in loose, well-drained soil and water consistently for a productive harvest.
- Fall Planting: Plant onion sets in the fall to overwinter them for an early summer harvest the following year
- Easy to Grow: Boiler Onion is known for its hardy nature and ability to thrive in a variety of climates and soil conditions.
How to grow overwintered bulb onions
For dry bulbs, choose seed explicitly sold as a variety suitable for overwintering. Utah State University Extension recommends sowing onion seed in mid- to late August and reports that overwintered onions generally mature in June or July. Those are regional recommendations; use local extension advice or the seed packet for a named variety to determine the right sowing window where you garden. ( Utah State University Extension )
Match the variety to your location
Bulb onions form in response to day length. Maryland Extension describes long-day varieties as adapted to northern summers, short-day varieties as suited to the Deep South, and intermediate types as another option. UC IPM explains that bulbing begins when a variety reaches its critical day length, regardless of the plant’s size. A mismatch can result in poor bulbing or small bulbs. Day-length class does not by itself establish winter hardiness: confirm that a variety is also suitable for the fall-sown, overwintering method. (Maryland Extension; UC IPM)
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- Offers a vibrant mix of red, white, and yellow onions
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Planting too early can also cause problems. Maryland Extension warns: “Planting too early, with exposure to cold temperatures, can cause seed stalk development.” ( Maryland Extension, updated March 25, 2026 )
Prepare the bed and care for either crop
Onions grow best in full sun and fertile, well-drained soil with organic matter. A soil test can guide fertilizer needs. Their shallow roots make consistent moisture important: keep soil moist while plants are growing, because water stress can reduce bulb size, yield and flavor. As bulb onions mature and their tops fall over, stop watering. ( Utah State University Extension )
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- Versatile Onion Variety Mix: Red, white, and yellow onion set mix featuring intermediate, day-neutral, and long-day varieties suitable for home gardens in Zones 3-10
- USA Grown Quality: Our random mix of hand-sorted sets contains 8 ounces of onion bulbs grown in the USA with a how to plant and grow tip sheet included
- Non-GMO Onion Sets: Contains 8 oz. of Non-GMO onion sets with the number of sets varying with the size of the onions harvested, typically ranging from 40 to 60 per order
- Flexible Growing Options: Onion sets or bulbs can be planted in the vegetable garden, in a raised bed planter, or in a container and can be grown inside by a window or outside
- Harvest Flexibility: Harvest young onions as salad greens, or let the onion bulbs mature into full-size onions for storage and culinary use
Spacing and weeds
For bulb onions generally, USU recommends 3–4 inches between plants and seed rows 8–16 inches apart. Thin crowded seedlings early; close spacing tends to produce smaller bulbs unless water and nutrients are adequate. These general onion spacings are not the recommendation for walking onion top sets, which Illinois Extension spaces 4–5 inches apart.
Keep the bed weed-free and cultivate shallowly to avoid damaging onion roots. Organic mulch can retain moisture and suppress weeds. For fall-established onions, apply mulch late in the year to reduce winter injury. Clean straw or shredded leaves are suitable choices; Maryland Extension specifically recommends shredded tree leaves or straw to protect fall-planted perennial onions from weeds and extreme cold. (Utah State University Extension; Maryland Extension)
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- EGYPTIAN WALKING ONION DO NOT PRODUCE SEEDS: they reproduce via bulbils (small aerial bulblets), which are clones of the original plant and look just like miniature onions
- WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE: You will receive 10 Egyptian Walking Onion Topsets Bulbils ready for planting directly into your garden or raised bed
- UNIQUE WALKING GROWTH HABIT: Egyptian Walking Onions develop bulb clusters at the top of their stalks that naturally bend and root nearby as they mature
- IDEAL FOR VEGETABLE GARDENS: Perfect for raised beds, backyard gardens, edible landscapes, and kitchen gardens where fresh onions can be harvested throughout the growing season
- UNIQUE WALKING GROWTH HABIT: Egyptian Walking Onions develop bulb clusters at the top of their stalks that naturally bend and root nearby as they mature
Harvest and store bulb onions
Leave bulb onions in the ground until their tops fall over, then lift them and dry them for 1–2 weeks. They are cured when the skins are papery and the roots are dry. Store cured onions in cold, dry conditions and check them regularly. USU gives 32–40°F as the best storage range in its general onion guidance; this is not a winter-onion-specific storage trial. (Utah State University Extension)
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common winter-onion problems
- The wrong planting material: Ordinary bulb onion sets are not perennial walking onions. Choose walking onion top sets for a persistent greens-and-bulbils bed, or seed of an overwintering variety for a bulb harvest.
- Wrong day-length fit: Bulb formation follows a variety’s critical day length. Match its day-length class to your region, then separately check that it can overwinter there.
- Dry soil during growth: Shallow-rooted onions need steady moisture while growing; water stress can limit bulb size and yield.
- Insufficient winter protection: Late-year mulch can reduce damage to fall-established onions. Use clean straw or shredded leaves where available.
- Walking onion top sets spaced too closely: Use the crop-specific 4–5-inch spacing rather than general bulb-onion spacing.
Planting windows and winter survival vary by region and variety. Ask your local extension office or follow guidance for a named, locally adapted variety rather than treating an August date or a hardiness claim as universal. No winter-onion-specific yield figure is established by the cited guidance; Maryland Extension’s general onion yield estimate should not be taken as a winter-onion yield.
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Best Value
- EGYPTIAN WALKING ONION DO NOT PRODUCE SEEDS: they reproduce via bulbils (small aerial bulblets), which are clones of the original plant and look just like miniature onions
- WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE: You will receive 10 Egyptian Walking Onion Topsets Bulbils ready for planting directly into your garden or raised bed
- UNIQUE WALKING GROWTH HABIT: Egyptian Walking Onions develop bulb clusters at the top of their stalks that naturally bend and root nearby as they mature
- IDEAL FOR VEGETABLE GARDENS: Perfect for raised beds, backyard gardens, edible landscapes, and kitchen gardens where fresh onions can be harvested throughout the growing season
- UNIQUE WALKING GROWTH HABIT: Egyptian Walking Onions develop bulb clusters at the top of their stalks that naturally bend and root nearby as they mature
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