Clear Dawn Onion
Botanical Name: Allium cepa
Description
105 days. For many years we grew and depended on Copra hybrid as a reliable storage onion … then we found Clear Dawn! It is the result of 36 years of breeding work by a group of Biodynamic market gardeners who dehybridized Copra to get open-pollinated Clear Dawn. Similar to Copra, it is a medium-sized yellow onion that will store up to 7 months. Like all storage onions, it is very spicy raw but becomes sweet and heavenly when browned. Perfect for winter soups or just roasted with a little oil in the oven. Long-day type is suitable for northern growing (37° latitude and north). If you haven’t grown onions before, check out the “Growing” instructions tab on our website. MH
Growing
Growing Instructions (for USDA Zone 5b):
Your onion transplants need to get nice and big before planting outside ASAP in early spring. Start seeds inside in late January under high quality grow lights. Use a good seed starting mix (we recommend Vermont Compost’s Fort Light). Ideal temperature for germination is 70-80° (use heating mat). Days to germination: 4-13. Once leaves appear, grow plants at 70° - 75°. Fertilize weekly with fish/kelp fertilizer. Harden off plants before planting into fertile garden soil 1” deep, spaced 4” apart in rows 15” apart. Mulch with straw, keep well watered and weeded.
Harvest:
Harvest in late July once plants have turned brown, but while stems and skins are still intact. Dig on a dry day & cure for a week in a warm dry place with good air circulation.
Seed Saving Instructions (for gardeners):
Onions are a difficult seed saving crop because they are biennial. Minimum population size: 25. Dig & cure onions as you would for eating selecting the best for seeds. Store over onions at cool temp (35°-40°) with 65-70% humidity. Plant in mid spring spaced 4” apart in rows 28” apart. Clip seed stalks into a bucket as pods mature (late summer). Dry, thresh, and winnow to clean.
