Shallots are related to onions but have a different flavor. They also have ornamental value as they produce attractive flowers during the summer. They can grow quite tall as well, about 1 ½ feet. French shallots (grey shallots) are quite popular. There are also red shallots, echalion shallots, and Dutch yellow shallots.

White Portugal onions are a great pick to make green onions. Other varieties for green onions include White Spear, Ebenezer, and Tokyo Long White.

These kinds of onions are appropriate for harvesting as green onions. Recommended varieties include Beltsville Bunching and Japanese Bunching. These onions work just as well if planted from seedlings, seeds, or sets. These kinds of onions are a good pick for colder climates and late fall to winter harvests. They will not form bulbs and indeed the entire plant with the root structure can be harvested and used.

These are onions that are planted during the winter in some areas and are harvested during the following growing season. Egyptian, Hill and Walking Onions are often considered winter onions. They are good for an early batch of green onions. Make sure to use a layer of mulch with these kinds of onions. Cornell University has a great guide to growing Egyptian onions.

‘Texas Grano 1015Y’ has good disease resistance. Crystal Wax is a disease resistant white onion with a mild flavor. Use quickly after harvest.

Out of all the onion varieties out there, the white Bermuda onions keep about the least amount of time in storage. You can easily grow the white Portugal from seed. Use this onion quickly after harvest.

Pungent yellow onions are the onions that work best for long storage. Yellow Globe and Copra are good picks for a long-storing yellow onion. Sweet Sandwich is a yellow hybrid onion that stores well. It grows as a long-day variety.

The large red onions are usually sweeter onions. They are good for eating raw or cooking. Burgundy is a delicious red onion. It has a milder flavor than other onions. Red Wethersfield is a good pick and comes as a long-day onion. This onion grows very well from sets.

Sweet onions are sometimes larger than their smaller cousins. Vidalia, Sweet Spanish, Bermuda, and Walla Walla are good picks for sweeter onions. The white Bermuda has a great sweet taste but won’t keep for long in storage.

Early Yellow Globe is a popular yellow bulb onion and grows well in northern states. Grow the yellow Buffalo onion for an early harvest. The Ebenezer onion is either white or yellow. They grow very well from sets. White Portugal is an excellent option to grow by seed. Use this onion quickly after harvest. Yellow and White Spanish are popular onions for northern states. They produce large bulbs but have a later harvest. Sweet Sandwich is a yellow hybrid onion that stores well. Walla Walla Sweet is a popular long-day onion.