Yellow onion seed recommendation for overwintering, storage, and saving seeds in Portland, Oregon? - Ask Extension
I would like to grow onions, ideally yellow, but other colors would be okay too, which I would store and eat all winter though let some go to seed and...
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Yellow onion seed recommendation for overwintering, storage, and saving seeds in Portland, Oregon? #876886
Asked July 11, 2024, 7:50 PM EDT
I would like to grow onions, ideally yellow, but other colors would be okay too, which I would store and eat all winter though let some go to seed and save the seeds for the next year's planting. I looked up the OSU recommendations, but it looks like Copra has been replaced by Patterson at the companies I checked with. Patterson is marked as a hybrid and I was under the impression that hybrid plants don't make viable seeds. I'm not sure if New York Early or Candy are good for overwintering, and I don't think Walla Walla is supposed to store as well, though I may be mistaken about any of these things. Basically, I'd just like a recommendation for yellow onion seeds for Portland, Oregon that will overwinter, store well, and make viable seeds for me to plant again. Thank you.
Multnomah County Oregon
Expert Response
Hi,
Thank you for using Ask Extension.
I really couldn't find a good list of onion varieties in any trial documentation. I did find this publication that lists some seed sources:
pnw548.pdf (oregonstate.edu)
You may be better off looking at specific vendors and reviewing their recommendations. Some of the suppliers have varieties recommend for our climate and look to meet your requirements.
If you want to save your own seeds, you really want to look for 'open-pollinated' as you are more likely to get seed that will match your plant.
Thank you for using Ask Extension.
I really couldn't find a good list of onion varieties in any trial documentation. I did find this publication that lists some seed sources:
pnw548.pdf (oregonstate.edu)
You may be better off looking at specific vendors and reviewing their recommendations. Some of the suppliers have varieties recommend for our climate and look to meet your requirements.
If you want to save your own seeds, you really want to look for 'open-pollinated' as you are more likely to get seed that will match your plant.
