How to Grow Onion Texas 1015

Onion Texas 1015

Allium cepa 'Texas 1015'

vegetable

Texas 1015 is a short-day sweet onion variety developed by Texas A&M University, known for its mild flavor and high sugar content. It produces large, golden-yellow bulbs that are ideal for fresh eating, grilling, and cooking. This variety is specifically bred for fall planting in warm climates and is one of the most popular sweet onion varieties in the southern United States.

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun, 8+ hours daily for optimal bulb development

💧

Water: Consistent moisture throughout growing season; water 1-1.5 inches per week. Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Reduce watering as bulbs mature and tops begin to yellow.

📏

Spacing: 4-6 inches

📅

Days to maturity: 165-175 days from transplant

🌱

Planting depth: Plant sets 1 inch deep; transplants at soil line with bulb just above surface

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy or sandy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-7.0

Amendments:

Compost Well-rotted manure Peat moss Balanced fertilizer (10-10-10)

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Best suited to zones 8-10; optimized for southern regions with mild winters

8a 8b 9a 9b 10a

Growth Stages

Seedling/Transplant

2-3 weeks

Small green shoots emerge from sets or transplants establish with minimal leaf growth

Keep soil consistently moist. Provide full sun immediately. Thin sets if needed to proper spacing. Maintain soil temperature around 60-70°F.

Vegetative Growth

8-12 weeks

Vigorous leaf development with multiple green shoots forming a bushy top; underground development of basal plate and root system

Water regularly; maintain consistent moisture. Apply balanced fertilizer every 3-4 weeks. Remove any flower stalks if they appear. Monitor for pests and diseases.

Bulb Development

6-10 weeks

Leaf growth slows as energy shifts underground; visible thickening at the base as bulb begins to swell and enlarge

Continue consistent watering but begin to taper frequency. Apply high-potassium fertilizer to support bulb development. Keep soil weed-free. Gradually expose bulb top as it swells above soil.

Maturation

3-4 weeks

Bulb reaches full size; outer papery skin develops rich golden-yellow color. Tops yellow and begin to flop over naturally.

Reduce watering significantly once tops start to yellow. Do not fertilize. Stop watering when 50% of tops have fallen over. Bulbs should mature by spring (March-April in southern zones).

Harvest & Curing

2-3 weeks curing

Fully mature bulbs with dried, papery skin; tops completely brown and dry

Pull bulbs when majority of foliage has dried. Cure in warm, dry, well-ventilated location for 2-3 weeks before storage. Brush off loose soil gently; do not wash. Store in cool, dry place.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Lettuce Carrot Beet Cabbage Broccoli Spinach Strawberry

Avoid planting near:

Beans Peas Asparagus Sage Parsnip

Common Pests

Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; encourage beneficial insects; remove affected leaves; use reflective mulch as deterrent
Plant disease-resistant varieties; ensure excellent drainage; avoid overhead watering; sanitize tools; remove infected bulbs immediately
Practice crop rotation; improve soil drainage; use clean seed/sets; avoid planting in infested soil for 3-4 years
Use floating row covers on young plants; apply beneficial nematodes to soil; remove infested bulbs; maintain good sanitation
Ensure good air circulation; avoid overhead watering; apply copper fungicide if needed; remove severely infected leaves

Uses

🍳

Fresh eating & grilling

Culinary

Texas 1015 is exceptionally mild and sweet, making it ideal for eating raw in salads, sandwiches, and salsas. Its high sugar content and low pungency also make it excellent for grilling and caramelizing. [source]

🍳

Sauces & soups

Culinary

The sweetness concentrates beautifully when cooked, making these onions perfect for French onion soup, caramelized onion sauce, and other cooked dishes where onion flavor is central. [source]

🏠

Extended fresh storage

Household

Unlike storage onions, Texas 1015 has a shorter shelf life (2-3 months) but develops superior flavor and texture for immediate use, making it better for home gardeners prioritizing taste over winter storage. [source]

💊

Nutritional & wellness benefits

Medicinal

Onions are rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, and sulfur compounds with potential anti-inflammatory properties. The high sugar content in Texas 1015 complements these beneficial compounds. [source]

🦋

Pollinator-friendly flowers

Wildlife

If an onion plant bolts and produces flowers (which rarely happens in Texas 1015 grown commercially), the delicate pink-white flowers attract pollinators and beneficial insects. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Harvest in spring (March-May depending on region) when approximately 50-75% of tops have fallen over naturally and yellowed. Gently pull bulbs from soil and cure in a warm, dry, well-ventilated area for 2-3 weeks. Once fully cured, store in mesh bags or braids in a cool (50-60°F), dry location. Texas 1015 onions are best used fresh within a few months due to high sugar content and lower storage potential compared to storage onion varieties.

Fun Facts

🌱 Texas 1015 was developed by Texas A&M University in the 1980s and is so named because it was bred to be planted on October 15th for optimal spring harvest in South Texas.
🌱 The '1015' designation comes from the ideal planting date (10/15), making it one of the few vegetable varieties named after when it should be planted rather than its characteristics.
🌱 Texas 1015 onions are so sweet that they're sometimes called 'candy onions' by home gardeners, containing about 12% sugars compared to 5-6% in regular storage onions.

Want personalized planting timelines?

Get started free