Vegetables for the Backyard Farm - Backyard Farming: On an Acre - page 117

German Extra-Hardy. Its high sugar content makes this an excellent garlic for roasting. A large
and cold-hardy hardneck.
Inchelium Red. A mild-flavored softneck garlic that is considered one of the best-tasting garlics.
Polish. A hardy, softneck garlic with large, flavorful cloves.
Siberian. A cold-hardy, hardneck garlic with purple cloves. A popular hardneck variety.
Onions ( Allium cepa )
Onions have a bit of a reputation for being picky and high-maintenance in the garden. When you
prepare your beds nicely and plant the onions in loose, organic-rich soil, you'll have a better chance
of success. Be sure to match the variety you plant with your garden region as well.
Large onion bulbs are easily grown in the home garden, cured until the skins are dried, and then stored for
use over several weeks.
(Photo courtesy of Baker Creek Seeds)
Plant onion sets or starts about 4 inches apart with the roots just barely in the soil first thing in
the spring. If starting from seed, begin onions indoors in midwinter so they will be ready to set out
in early spring. Onions are rather short-rooted, so they won't compete well with weeds or tolerate
heavy periods of drought well.