White Onion

Allium cepa 'White Sweet Spanish'

vegetable

A mild, low-sulfur sweet onion excellent for raw use in salads, sandwiches, and guacamole. White onions are a staple of Mexican, Latin American, and Southwestern cooking. Less pungent than yellow onions, they have a brighter, cleaner flavor and a shorter storage life than storage varieties.

✅ Plant alongside

Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests

• Carrot — Onion scent deters carrot rust fly
• Chamomile — Said to improve onion flavor and growth
• Lettuce — Efficient use of bed space
• Tomato — Onion deters aphids from tomato plants

❌ Keep away from

🛡️ Pest & disease prevention

Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide

• Onion maggot →

  Row cover from planting; avoid fresh manure before planting; rotate crops annually

• Thrips →

  Reflective mulch deters thrips; spinosad spray if severe

• Downy mildew →

  Plant in raised beds with good drainage; avoid overhead watering; copper fungicide

• White rot →

  Strict rotation; do not plant alliums in same bed for 8+ years if affected

🌾 Harvest & storage

Harvest when 50 to 75 percent of tops have naturally fallen over. Carefully lift with a fork. Cure in a warm, dry, well-ventilated spot for 2 to 3 weeks until papery skin forms and necks dry out completely. White onions store 1 to 2 months — significantly less than yellow storage onions. Use early in the season.

🥗 Nutrition & benefits

Good source of vitamin C, vitamin B6, folate, and quercetin. Contains sulfur compounds with documented antimicrobial properties. Lower in sulfur compounds than yellow onions, making them more digestible for some people.