Starting your onion patch from seed is a six-month patience test, and nursery transplants arrive with a premium price tag for a few dozen stems. The shortcut that seasoned growers swear by is starting with dormant onion bulbs — called “sets” — which cut your time to green onions by half and nearly guarantee a harvestable crop even if you plant late.
I’m Mohammad Maruf — the founder and writer behind Gardening Beyond. I spend my time digging through horticultural trial data, comparing bulbing rates and disease resistance across dozens of onion varieties, and cross-referencing those specs with aggregated owner feedback to find the sets that actually perform in real garden soil.
Every option below was chosen for its germination consistency, bulb size at shipping, and variety-specific flavor profile — making this the only guide you need to find the absolute best candied onion plants for a sweet, low-stress harvest this season.
How To Choose The Best Candied Onion Plants
Before you click “add to cart,” you need to match the onion variety to your local daylight hours and your harvest goal. Day-length classification isn’t marketing fluff — it dictates whether your bulbs swell or stay the size of a golf ball. Here are the three specs that separate a bumper crop from a disappointment.
Day-Length Classification
Short-day onions (10–12 hours of daylight) bulb in southern latitudes — think Texas or Georgia. Long-day varieties (14–16 hours) are mandatory for northern states like Michigan or New York. Intermediate-day, also called day-neutral, is the safest pick for gardeners in zones 5–7 and produces a consistent bulb in most regions. Check your zone before buying a mixed bag of sets; a long-day set planted in Florida will produce tops only.
Set Size and Firmness at Arrival
The ideal onion set is about the diameter of a nickel — roughly ¾ inch. Sets smaller than a pea often bolt (flower early) or produce tiny bulbs. Sets larger than a quarter may split or send up a flower stalk prematurely. When the package arrives, squeeze a few bulbs. A viable set is rock-hard with no give. Desiccated, papery sets or bulbs that crumble to dust are dead stock and won’t root, no matter how perfect your soil prep is.
Variety Mix vs. Single-Type Orders
A mixed assortment (red, white, yellow) is ideal if you want scallions in six weeks and mature bulbs later in the season. Single-variety orders — like pure Stuttgarter yellow — are better for gardeners focused on long-term storage or consistent flavor for canning. The trade-off is predictability: a mix gives you diversity, but a single variety ensures every bulb matures on the same schedule.
Quick Comparison
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| Model | Category | Best For | Key Spec | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stargazer Perennials Mixed Onion Assortment | Mixed Sets | Beginner-friendly variety | 8 oz, red/white/yellow mix | Amazon |
| Starting Gardens White Onion Sets | Single Variety | Sweet, mild white bulbs | 60–80 white bulbs | Amazon |
| Country Creek Yellow Onion Starter Sets | Yellow Sets | Classic cooking onions | 100 yellow sets | Amazon |
| Stargazer Perennials Yellow Stuttgarter | Premium Single | Long-term storage | 50–60 Stuttgarter bulbs | Amazon |
| Gardeners Basics Onion Seeds (8 varieties) | Seed Pack | Maximum variety | 8 seed packets | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. Stargazer Perennials Mixed Onion Assortment
This 8-ounce assortment of red, white, and yellow sets is the single most versatile option for gardeners who want both scallions and dry bulbs from one package. Rated for zones 3 through 10, the day-neutral mix means you don’t have to stress about your latitude — the sets will adjust and bulb properly whether you’re in Florida or Maine. Multiple reviewers confirmed 100% sprouting within 10 days, and the included tip sheet removes guesswork for first-timers.
The hand-sorted bulbs arrive in a random mix, but the overwhelming majority of reports describe healthy, firm sets that push green tops within a week of planting. A handful of buyers noted a few dried-out bulbs in their batch, but the count typically runs 40–60 sets, so the usable surplus more than compensates. Intermediate-day genetics keep the plants from bolting early, giving you a full window for bulb sizing.
For gardeners who want one reliable bag that covers spring scallions, summer bulbing, and fall storage, this is the stop. The convenience of three colors in one order saves you from buying separate packages, and the germination track record is consistently strong across multiple growing seasons.
What works
- Day-neutral mix works in nearly every US zone
- Majority of sets sprout within a week
- Three colors from one bag — great variety
What doesn’t
- Occasional dry bulbs reduce total count
- Color ratio can be skewed toward yellow
2. Starting Gardens White Onion Sets
If your goal is a consistent white onion crop for fresh eating or mild pickling, this single-variety bag delivers the most uniform bulb size I’ve seen in the white-set segment. The package lists 60–80 bulbs, but multiple verified reviews report receiving more than 80 sets, and nearly all sprout within a week of planting. The 12–18 inch mature height is ideal for raised beds where you want foliage without shading shorter crops.
The bulbs arrive firm, not papery, which is the single biggest predictor of successful rooting. One experienced gardener with 70 years of growing history noted a single bad batch, but the overwhelming consensus — over a dozen positive reviews — describes close to 98% germination. Spacing them 2–4 inches apart in well-drained soil produces thick green tops in about 4–5 weeks, perfect for continuous scallion harvests.
White onions are naturally less pungent than yellow varieties, making these sets a strong choice for gardeners who prioritize fresh salads and grilling over long-term cellar storage. The medium-to-fast growth rate means you can succession-plant a second round in early fall in warmer zones, stretching your harvest window.
What works
- High count often exceeds advertised number
- Very firm sets with strong root development
- Produces sweet white bulbs and scallions
What doesn’t
- Occasional report of sets that won’t sprout
- Not ideal for long-term storage
3. Country Creek LLC Yellow Onion Starter Sets
A 100-count bag of pure yellow sets is the volume play for gardeners with large beds or a serious cooking habit. Country Creek’s batch produced 3-foot green stalks in multiple early-season reports, and buyers consistently describe the bulbs as “pretty” and “high-quality.” The sets arrived mold-free with a perfect 100% germination rate in several controlled test plantings.
The trade-off for the high count is some variability in bulb size at shipping — a few users reported that not every set was equally large, but the sheer quantity means you can cull the smallest ones and still have plenty for a 30-foot row. Plant them 1–2 inches deep and 4 inches apart, and you’ll have green onions by week 5 and mature storage bulbs by mid-summer.
Yellow onions store longer than any other color, so this bag is the smart buy if you plan to can, dehydrate, or keep a root-cellar supply into winter. The price per set is hard to beat, and the grower’s rapid shipping keeps the bulbs from drying out in transit.
What works
- Very high count per bag — excellent coverage
- Consistent germination across verified tests
- Produces large dry onions for storage
What doesn’t
- Some small sets mixed into the batch
- Not suitable for southern short-day zones
4. Stargazer Perennials Yellow Stuttgarter Onion Sets
The Stuttgarter variety is the gold standard for winter storage, and Stargazer Perennials’ 8-ounce package is a focused, single-variety order that cuts out the randomness of mixed bags. These intermediate-day bulbs are bred for slow bolting, meaning they’ll hold in the ground longer without sending up a flower stalk — a critical trait if your spring planting schedule runs late.
One detailed buyer report counted over 120 bulbs in a single bag, with about 45 of them in the optimal marble-sized range. After planting in mid-October, almost all had emerged within three weeks. The flavor profile is mildly sweet, edging toward the classic yellow-cooking-onion taste that soups and roasts depend on. A small subset of orders arrived with desiccated bulbs (roughly 20% in one complaint), but the majority describe healthy, firm sets that established quickly.
If you’re a gardener who thinks ahead to fall stews and wants a single variety you can rely on for months in the cellar, this is the bag. The included growing guide adds practical value, particularly for new growers who need help spacing, watering, and identifying the right harvest window.
What works
- Excellent storage potential — holds for months
- Slow-bolting genetics protect harvest timing
- Manual bag count often exceeds advertised 60
What doesn’t
- Inconsistent bulb firmness across batches
- Photo can set unrealistic size expectations
5. Gardeners Basics Onion Seeds (8 Varieties)
If your gardening style prefers starting from seed for the widest possible variety, this 8-packet collection is a powerhouse. It includes White Sweet Spanish, Yellow Granex, Tokyo Long White Bunching, Red October, Walla Walla, Red Creole, Texas Early Grano 502, and Yellow Sweet Spanish — covering short-day, long-day, and bunching types in one purchase. All seeds are non-GMO heirloom stock, grown and packaged in the USA.
The biggest advantage of seeds over sets is the ability to schedule your planting exactly. Start indoors 8–10 weeks before your last frost date, and you’ll have transplants ready to go outside at the exact moment your soil warms. One reviewer noted the packets lack expiration or Latin-name labels, which matters if you like to track specific subspecies, but the germination rate across multiple reports was excellent — one buyer said the entire garden was “growing great” after a single season.
For anyone who wants to sample red, yellow, white, sweet, and green onions in one order without buying separate seed packets, this is the most efficient path. The quantity is enough for three planting seasons for a small yard, making the per-season cost nearly negligible.
What works
- Covers 8 distinct onion types in one purchase
- Heirloom, non-GMO seeds grown in the USA
- Enough stock for multiple seasons
What doesn’t
- No packing or expiration dates on packets
- Seeds need 3–4 months to mature bulbs
Hardware & Specs Guide
Set Size and Viability
The ideal onion set is about the diameter of a US nickel — roughly ¾ inch. Larger sets (over 1 inch) are more prone to bolting, while sets smaller than a pea rarely size up into usable dry bulbs. When you open the bag, squeeze a bulb between your thumb and forefinger. A viable set is rock-hard; a set that crumbles or feels papery has lost too much moisture to root effectively. Aim for at least 80% firm bulbs in any mixed batch, and cull the soft ones before planting.
Day-Length Matching
Day-length classification is the primary factor that determines whether your onions bulb or just grow tops. Short-day onions bulb when daylight reaches 10–12 hours — best for USDA zones 7 and south. Long-day onions require 14–16 hours — essential for zones 6 and north. Intermediate-day (day-neutral) onions bulb reliably in zones 5–7 and offer the most flexibility. The Stargazer Perennials Mixed Assortment uses day-neutral genetics, making it the safest pick if you’re unsure of your zone.
FAQ
How many onion sets should I plant for a family of four?
Can I plant onion sets in pots or containers?
How do I tell if an onion set is dead before planting?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For most gardeners, the best candied onion plants winner is the Stargazer Perennials Mixed Onion Assortment because the day-neutral mix, high germination rate, and three-color variety make it the single most versatile bag for any zone. If you want pure white sweet bulbs for fresh eating, grab the Starting Gardens White Onion Sets. And for long-term storage and canning, nothing beats the Stargazer Perennials Yellow Stuttgarter.