White Sweet Spanish

Family: Amaryllidaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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

Sweetly fragrant and remarkably mild, White Sweet Spanish brings a clean, honeyed onion character with a tender bite that feels almost silky.

At maturity, the bulbs form smooth, pure white globes with a fine, dry skin and a crisp, juicy interior—ideal for fresh use and for turning into glossy, mellow sauces that let its sweetness shine. Grow it for a long, steady season (about 105 days) and enjoy the satisfaction of harvest-ready bulbs that store with confidence while staying pleasantly sweet.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 105 DaysHabit: Bulbing

Botanical illustration of White Sweet Spanish

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White Sweet Spanish 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	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 3a	Mar 6th	May 15th	Aug 28th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 10th	May 19th	Sep 1st – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 6th	May 15th	Aug 28th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 4th	May 13th	Aug 26th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Feb 27th	May 8th	Aug 21st – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Feb 23rd	May 4th	Aug 17th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Feb 20th	May 1st	Aug 14th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Feb 14th	Apr 25th	Aug 8th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Feb 9th	Apr 20th	Aug 3rd – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Jan 30th	Apr 10th	Jul 24th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Jan 21st	Apr 1st	Jul 15th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Jan 12th	Mar 23rd	Jul 6th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Dec 26th	Mar 6th	Jun 19th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 1st	Feb 9th	May 25th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 14th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 14th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 14th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 14th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 14th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 14th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 14th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 14th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	105
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Bulbing
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	5

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

White Sweet Spanish cooks down into a glossy, silky sweetness without the sharpness that can make other onions feel aggressive. It’s built for slicing and for long, gentle reduction—where the honeyed aroma stays intact and the texture turns luxuriously soft rather than stewy.

Best Uses

thinly sliced raw for salads and bagel-style toppings (no harsh bite)
slow-cooked until deeply glossy for sweet caramelized-style jam
mellow, velvety onion sauces that can go nearly spoonable without bitterness
grilled or roasted wedges where the edges brown but the center stays juicy

Flavor Profile

sweet, honeyed onion aroma mild, tender bite with a juicy crunch silky melt when cooked clean finish with gentle acidity

Kitchen Pairings

balsamic vinegar butter or olive oil fresh thyme Gruyère chicken stock goat cheese

Frequently Asked Questions

White Sweet Spanish (Allium cepa): What should I do if I see purple-gray mold or white rot at the base?

This onion is prone to white rot (Sclerotium) and fungal rots that start at the base and spread upward. Pull and destroy affected plants, avoid disturbing the soil around them, and don’t replant onions or related alliums in the same bed for several years. Improve drainage, keep foliage dry (water at the soil line), and use fresh, clean transplants/sets to reduce new infections.

For White Sweet Spanish (Allium cepa), how often should I water during the main bulbing phase?

During bulb formation, keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy—about 1 inch (2–3 cm) per week total, adjusted for heat and rainfall. Water deeply so moisture reaches the roots, then let the top couple centimeters of soil dry slightly before watering again. When bulbs are well-sized (near late growth), reduce watering to prevent soft, watery bulbs.

How can I tell when White Sweet Spanish (Allium cepa) is ready to harvest?

Harvest at around 105 days when about half to three-quarters of the tops have fallen over and the necks start to soften. Lift bulbs carefully (don’t yank), and leave them to cure in a warm, airy, shaded spot until outer skins are papery and the neck is tight. If you cut too early, the neck won’t cure properly and storage life will be much shorter.