About Vidalia Onions

These onions are the rage! This very large, and very sweet onion is popular for Bloomin Onions and many other onion recipes. But what kind of onions are they…….really!? 

Vidalia onions are defined by where they are grown, and only partially by the variety of onions. By definition, these onions are a sweet onion, low in sulphur, that is grown in Vidalia, Georgia area where they originated. It was first grown by a farmer named Mose Coleman in 1931. At that time, sweet onions were not well known, or popular. This onion gained much of its sweetness, largely due to the lack of sulphur in the soil in the Vidalia area. Sulphur is what gives onions their pungent flavor.

A trademark protects the use of this name. Legally, you cannot buy this onion seed, grow it in your area, and use the name. State and federal legislation define only certain counties of Georgia, as producers of Vidalia Onions.

The seeds are short day, Granex type onion seeds. These include Yellow Granex, Texas Grano and other Granex varieties. Also, these seed varieties are readily available. 

The combination of granex onion seeds, low sulphur soil and being grown in the Vidalia, Georgia area is what qualifies an onion to be called and sold as a “Vidalia onion”.

So in summary, you can buy and grow the same seed varieties. But only those grown in the designated area can be marketed and sold as Vidalia onions.  

Harvesting and Curing Onions

Find more on growing onion plants