Allium Family: Onions, Shallots, Green Onions

With dozens of allium varieties to choose from, the right selection can mean the difference between success and disappointment, so use this guide to determine what will suit you best.

Excerpted from Simple Steps: Vegetable Gardening

Onion '<em>Ailsa Craig</em>'

An old favorite, this reliable variety yields heavy crops of large, sweet onions, with smooth yellow-brown skin. Best sown as seed in spring to produce a good fall crop that stores well if allowed to dry.

Sow: Late winter to early spring
Harvest: Late summer to early fall
Soil Preference: Well-drained soil
Sun or Shade: Full sun