---
title: White Bunching Onion
created: 2026-05-24
updated: 2026-05-25
type: entity
tags: [onions, heirloom, open-pollinated]
sources: [raw/articles/seedvault-home-page.md]
---

# White Bunching Onion

## Overview
Bulbless variety producing flavorful leek-like stalks. Hardy, overwinters for spring bunching. Use for green bunching and scallions.

- **Category:** Onions
- **Price:** $3.12
- **Variety Type:** Open-pollinated

## Growing Instructions

### Sowing
Start indoors 2-3 months before last frost: 1/4" deep in flat, keep moist. Cut tops to 3" when flopping to focus on roots. Transplant at 50°F soil, 3" apart in rows 12" apart. Direct: 3 seeds/inch, 1/4" deep, light rich soil (pH 6.0-7.0), full sun, thin to 3". Companion: cabbage family, lettuce, tomatoes.

### Germination
7-14 days at 50-75°F

### Care
Need moisture, especially first few weeks. Can't compete with weeds — mulch helps both. Tolerates cold and light frost.

### Harvest
60-80 days. Cut tops or pull entire plant.

## Soil & Conditions
- **pH:** 6.0-7.0, well-drained. Tolerates partial shade.

## Seed Storage
- **Viability:** 3-4 years cool/dry. Store below 40°F.
- **Pre-treatment:** Overwinter for spring bunching or direct sow early spring. No cold stratification needed.

## Yield
- **Per Plant:** 0.5-1 lb per bunch
- **Harvest Season:** Mid-summer
- **Note:** Harvest as bunching onions or let bulbs form
Biennial. Save seeds from overwintered plants that bolt year 2. Isolate ½ mile from other onion varieties. Harvest when seed capsules brown.

## Pest & Disease
Onion thrips, onion maggot, downy mildew, pink root. Rotate every 3 years, avoid replanting where alliums grew.

## Harvest & Preservation
Cut at root, use fresh. Store bunches upright in water or wrapped in damp paper towel, refrigerated 1-2 weeks.

## Companion Planting

### Good Companions
- **[[long-island-brussels-sprouts]] family, [[butter-crunch-butterhead-lettuce]], [[roma-tomatoes]]** — Repel pests across multiple families

### Part of: Cool Season Mix
- See [[companion-planting]] for full combination details

## Related
- [[seedvault-market]]
- [[grow-guides]]
- [[seed-catalog]]