Walla Walla White

Family: Amaryllidaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Walla Walla White to a garden.

Silken-sweet and luminous, Walla Walla White onions open with a gentle, honeyed aroma and a crisp, juicy bite that feels almost orchard-fresh.

The bulbs mature in about 90 days with a clean, pale-white skin and a rounded, slightly flattened silhouette, delivering tender layers that stay pleasantly mild. Grow Walla Walla White for standout fresh use—ideal for salads, sandwiches, and bright salsas—where its delicate sweetness can shine.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Bulbing

Botanical illustration of Walla Walla White

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Walla Walla White Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Mar 30th	May 25th	Aug 23rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 20th	May 15th	Aug 13th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 20th	May 15th	Aug 13th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 24th	May 19th	Aug 17th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 20th	May 15th	Aug 13th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 18th	May 13th	Aug 11th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 13th	May 8th	Aug 6th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 9th	May 4th	Aug 2nd – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 6th	May 1st	Jul 30th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Feb 28th	Apr 25th	Jul 24th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Feb 23rd	Apr 20th	Jul 19th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 13th	Apr 10th	Jul 9th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 4th	Apr 1st	Jun 30th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Jan 26th	Mar 23rd	Jun 21st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 9th	Mar 6th	Jun 4th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 15th	Feb 9th	May 10th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	90
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Bulbing
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	55
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	7

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Walla Walla White is bred for sweet, low-pungency eating—its juicy layers stay crisp and bright instead of turning sharp. It’s the onion you put on cold food or barely warm it, so the honeyed aroma and orchard-fresh crunch actually get to lead.

Best Uses

raw slicing on sandwiches where it stays crisp (no aggressive bite)
thin-cut salads that can hold a citrus vinaigrette without turning sulfurous
fresh salsas and pico where it adds juiciness and sweet lift
quick-melt sauté just to soften—let it stay pale and glossy, not deeply browned

Flavor Profile

mild, silken sweetness crisp, juicy snap with tender layers gentle honeyed aroma clean, low-pungency finish

Kitchen Pairings

lime smoked salt fresh cilantro goat cheese balsamic vinegar grilled chicken

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Walla Walla White onions showing yellowing leaves and soft bulbs, and what can I do?

Soft, collapsing necks with yellowing leaves are often onion rot caused by excess moisture and poor airflow around the bulb neck. Pull and discard any plants with soft tissue, then avoid watering overhead and water only at the soil line. Improve spacing and keep the bed weed-free so air moves between plants; for prevention, stop watering or reduce sharply as bulbs mature to keep the neck drier.

How often should I water Allium cepa during active bulb growth?

During the main bulb-forming phase (roughly after the plants are established), keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—aim for about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week, adjusted for rain and heat. Water deeply, then let the top 1 inch of soil dry slightly before watering again to avoid bulb rots. Once the bulbs start to bulk and necks begin to tighten, taper watering so the neck stays drier for harvest curing.

When are Walla Walla White onions ready to harvest, and what signs should I look for?

Harvest when about 70–90% of the tops have fallen over and the necks are papery and tight, which for Allium cepa is typically near 90 days. Lift the bulbs gently to avoid bruising, especially because long-keeping quality depends on undamaged skins. Cure them in a dry, airy spot out of direct sun for 1–2 weeks until the outer skins are crisp and the necks are fully dried.