VegetablesSweet Onion
Allium cepa
Difficulty: Moderate
Sweet onions are short-day onion varieties that set bulbs with about 12 hours of daylight. They grow in full sun, have a mild, sweet flavor, and are best eaten fresh.
How to grow sweet onion
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Comparing Sweet Onion vs. Onion vs. Acorn Squash
The comparison
Sweet Onion vs. Onion vs. Acorn Squash
| Fact | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | Moderate | Moderate | Easy |
| Life cycle | Biennial | Biennial | Annual |
| Germination time | 14–21 days | 14–21 days | Not yet verified |
| Sowing depth | 6 mm–1.5 cm¼–½ in | 6 mm–1.5 cm¼–½ in | Not yet verified |
| Spacing between plants | 8–10 cm3¼–4 in | 8–10 cm3¼–4 in | Not yet verified |
| Sun | Full sun | Full sun | Full sun |
| Water | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Frost tolerance | Hardy | Hardy | Not yet verified |
| Soil pH | pH 6.2–6.5 | pH 6.2–6.5 | pH 6.0–8.0 |
| Toxicity to cats | Toxic | Toxic | Non-toxic |
| Toxicity to dogs | Toxic | Toxic | Non-toxic |
| Links |
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Meet the seeds
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- Vegetables
- Vegetables
Onion
Allium cepa
Difficulty: ModerateOnions are cool-season bulb vegetables you can start from seed, sets or transplants in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Bulbs take about 85 to 120 days to mature.
How to grow onion - Vegetables
Acorn Squash
Cucurbita pepo
Difficulty: EasyAcorn squash is a sprawling annual vine that prefers full sun and moderately moist soil. It is easy to sow from seed when the soil is warm, and it is non-toxic to cats and dogs.
How to grow acorn squash
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Sprouting
Germination time and temperature
How many days the seeds take to sprout, and the temperature range they sprout in.
Sowing
Sowing depth and spacing
How deep to sow each seed and how far apart the plants should grow. “On the surface” means the seed isn't covered.
Timing
Days to maturity and life cycle
How long until the plant is ready, counted from sowing or from transplanting (each value says which). Annuals live one year, biennials two, perennials longer.
Light and water
Sun and water
Full sun means 6 or more hours of direct sun a day, partial shade a few hours. Water needs are rated low, moderate or high.
Space and weather
Containers, frost tolerance and soil pH
Whether it grows in a pot, with the smallest pot when it's known. Frost tolerance runs from tender (no frost) to hardy. Soil pH 7 is neutral.
Pets
Toxicity to cats and dogs
Whether the plant is toxic to cats and dogs.
Quick wins
Fastest to sprout
Days from sowing until the first shoots appear, in good conditions.
Pet friendly
Safe around cats and dogs
Listed as non-toxic to both cats and dogs. Each seed's page has the details.
Not safe for pets: borage, buckwheat, caraway, carnation and 14 more.
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