How to Grow White Bermuda Onion

White Bermuda Onion

Allium cepa

vegetable

White Bermuda is a sweet, mild onion variety known for its pale golden-white skin and tender, juicy flesh. This heirloom variety is prized for fresh eating, salads, and mild onion dishes due to its low sulfur content and delicate flavor.

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun, 8+ hours daily

💧

Water: Consistent moisture throughout growing season; approximately 1-1.5 inches per week. Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Reduce watering as bulbs mature and approach harvest.

📏

Spacing: 4 inches

📅

Days to maturity: 110-120 days

🌱

Planting depth: Plant sets 1-1.5 inches deep; plant seed 0.5 inches deep

Soil

Type: Well-draining sandy loam to loamy soil

pH: 6.0-7.5

Amendments:

Compost or aged manure Phosphorus fertilizer Potassium source Avoid excessive nitrogen

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 3-10; performs best in zones 5-9

2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b

Growth Stages

Sprouting

1-2 weeks

Sets germinate or seeds emerge with first leaves visible above soil. Green shoots appear within 7-10 days.

Keep soil consistently moist. Ensure adequate sunlight exposure. Thin seedlings to proper spacing as they develop.

Vegetative Growth

6-8 weeks

Multiple green leaves develop, forming the leafy top. Plant builds root system and begins accumulating nutrients for bulbing.

Maintain consistent watering and full sun. Apply balanced fertilizer every 3-4 weeks. Keep weed-free to reduce competition.

Bulb Formation

4-6 weeks

Bulge develops at the base as the plant responds to day length. White skin begins to form; the characteristic pale color emerges.

Reduce nitrogen fertilizer; increase phosphorus and potassium for bulb development. Maintain even moisture but begin reducing frequency as bulbing progresses.

Maturation

3-4 weeks

Bulbs swell to full size with papery white outer layers. Tops begin to yellow, wilt, and fall over naturally.

Reduce watering significantly. Do not harvest prematurely. Allow tops to dry down naturally for better storage.

Harvest & Curing

Harvest window: 2-3 days; curing: 2-3 weeks

Bulbs reach full maturity with dried, papery skin. Tops completely brown and dry.

Pull bulbs when tops fall over. Allow to cure in a warm, dry location for 2-3 weeks before storage. Brush off soil gently; do not wash.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Beets Carrots Chamomile Lettuce Parsley Spinach Tomatoes Summer savory

Avoid planting near:

Asparagus Beans Peas Sage Other Alliums (garlic, leeks, shallots)

Common Pests

Use row covers in early season. Crop rotation (3-year cycle). Remove and destroy infested bulbs. Spinosad spray if needed.
Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap. Remove infected plant debris. Encourage natural predators like lady beetles.
Improve air circulation. Spray with sulfur or baking soda solution. Avoid overhead watering.
Use disease-resistant sets. Practice crop rotation. Ensure proper drainage and avoid waterlogging.
Use resistant varieties when possible. Reduce humidity with proper spacing. Copper fungicide spray in humid conditions.

Uses

🍳

Fresh eating and salads

Culinary

White Bermuda's mild, sweet flavor and tender texture make it ideal for fresh eating, sandwiches, salads, and salsas. Its low sulfur content provides a delicate onion taste without harshness. [source]

🍳

Grilling and roasting

Culinary

Slice thickly and grill or roast to bring out the natural sweetness. The mild flavor complements grilled vegetables and proteins without overpowering. [source]

💊

Traditional wellness

Medicinal

Onions contain quercetin and other flavonoids with antioxidant properties. Used traditionally in folk medicine to support immune health and respiratory function. [source]

🏠

Natural dye production

Household

The papery outer skins can be used to create natural yellow and golden dyes for textiles, a traditional practice in various cultures. [source]

🍳

Pickled preservation

Culinary

White Bermuda onions are excellent for pickling whole or sliced, producing a mild, slightly sweet pickled condiment that pairs with many dishes. [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 when 50-75% of the tops have fallen over and turned brown, typically mid-summer. Pull bulbs gently and allow to cure in a warm (70-75°F), dry, well-ventilated location for 2-3 weeks. Once cured, trim roots to 1 inch and store in cool (35-40°F), humid conditions. White Bermudas are best used fresh within a few months and do not store as long as storage onion varieties.

Fun Facts

🌱 White Bermuda onions are named after Bermuda, where they were historically grown and exported, becoming renowned for their exceptional sweetness and mild flavor in the 19th century.
🌱 These onions contain lower levels of sulfur compounds compared to storage onion varieties, which is why they taste sweeter and don't cause the same eye irritation when cut.
🌱 White Bermuda is a short-day onion variety, meaning it requires fewer hours of daylight to trigger bulbing, making it ideal for southern regions with shorter growing seasons.

Want personalized planting timelines?

Get started free