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Crystal White Wax onions growing in a sunny garden

How to Grow Crystal White Wax Onions From Seed

By Maxim Kaufman — Founder & CEO, Organo Republic

Updated July 2026

Crystal White Wax is a flat, mild, sweet white onion of the classic Crystal Wax or White Bermuda type. As a short-day variety it bulbs early and is best suited to Southern gardens, reaching full size in about 90 days. It shines for fresh use and is also the go-to onion for pickling and pearl onions, since you can pull the bulbs small and white or let them size up. It is not a storage onion, so enjoy it fresh from the garden soon after harvest.

This is the quick guide to Crystal White Wax. For the full step-by-step on starting seeds, sowing, feeding, and troubleshooting onions, see our complete guide to growing onions from seed.

Quick start

Start Crystal White Wax seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your last frost, or sow directly in early spring, since this short-day onion needs a long cool head start to size up. Transplant the seedlings out while it is still cool, spacing them 4 to 5 inches apart, or closer if you want small pickling onions. Keep the soil evenly moist and weed-free as the flat white bulbs form. Harvest in about 90 days once the tops flop over, and use the mild bulbs fresh or pickle the small ones.

Best tip

Because Crystal White Wax is a short-day onion, grow it in the South or start it very early; in the far North long summer days make it bulb before the plants size up. For pearl and pickling onions, sow the seed thickly and pull the bulbs while they are still small and white.

At a glance

Botanical nameAllium cepa

Plant typeCool-season biennial grown as an annual (short-day)

USDA zones3 to 9 (grown as an annual)

SunFull sun (6 to 8+ hours)

Days to maturityAbout 90 days from transplant

Height12 to 18 inches (tops)

Spacing4 to 5 inches apart (closer for pickling)

WaterEven and steady; about 1 inch a week

Uses

Crystal White Wax is a sweet, mild white onion for fresh use, chopped raw into salads, salsas, and sandwiches. It is also the classic choice for pickling and pearl onions, since small young bulbs pickle beautifully. It is not a storage onion, so enjoy it soon after harvest.

Frequently asked questions

How long do Crystal White Wax onions take to grow?

Crystal White Wax onions take about 90 days to reach full-size bulbs. As a short-day type they bulb when days are still fairly short, so start them early and grow them through spring for a summer harvest of flat white onions.

Are Crystal White Wax onions a short-day or long-day onion?

Crystal White Wax is a short-day onion, so it starts forming bulbs when daylight reaches about 10 to 12 hours. That makes it best suited to southern gardens; in the far North the long summer days can cause it to bulb before the plants size up.

Can you grow Crystal White Wax onions for pickling and pearl onions?

Yes. Crystal White Wax is a classic pickling and pearl onion. Sow the seed thickly and pull the bulbs while they are still small and white for pickling, or let them size up into flat, mild white onions for fresh use.

Do Crystal White Wax onions store well?

No. Crystal White Wax is a sweet, mild fresh-eating and pickling onion, not a storage type. Use the bulbs within a few weeks of harvest, or pickle the small ones, rather than trying to cure them for long winter storage.

Ready to grow your own Crystal White Wax? Start with a multi-variety onion pack, then follow our complete guide to growing onions from seed for every step from sowing to harvest.

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Want more onions? These value packs pair Crystal White Wax with other varieties:

By Maxim Kaufman — Founder & CEO, Organo Republic

Maxim founded Organo Republic in 2017 and personally selects, tests, and grows the heirloom, non-GMO varieties the company offers. Under his leadership, Organo Republic was named Agri Business Review’s Top Non-GMO Seed Variety Solution 2026.