Order your professional onion bulbs
Bulbiverse , a specialist wholesale supplier of onion bulbs, supports market gardeners, traders and agri-food professionals in their planting campaigns. Buying your onion bulbs guarantees you a supply of certified seeds, selected for their uniformity, yield performance and long-term conservation. Our bulbs, sourced from specialized nurseries, are adapted to the needs of the fresh market as well as those of processing. Take advantage of our producer prices , dedicated technical support and a responsive sales department to secure your crops. We ensure fast and careful delivery throughout France and offer calibrated batches, ready to plant. Our experts advise you on the varieties best suited to your yield and calendar objectives. Order your onion bulbs now or request your free quote to optimize your next campaign with personalized advice .
Professional Onion Cultivation: Strategies and Varieties for Growers
The onion, whether yellow, white or red, represents a strategic crop in France, occupying approximately 17,500 hectares and showing an average national production of 730,000 tonnes on a three-year basis, a figure which has increased by 90% in ten years . The French market is mainly segmented towards fresh consumption, absorbing 66% of production , while the processing industry (dehydration, 4th range) represents 34% . Professional onion cultivation must therefore integrate these market dynamics to maximize its profitability and diversification.
Varietal Selection for Professional Productions
Varietal choice is a crucial decision for any onion grower, directly influencing yield, quality, shelf life , and adaptability to French soil and climate conditions. F1 hybrids often dominate the professional market thanks to their uniformity and increased vigor.
Yellow Storage Onions: Technical References
Among yellow onions, several varieties stand out for their versatility and excellent storage capacity, essential for supplying the market over long periods.
The Centurion F1 Onion , a Rijnsburger hybrid, embodies a versatile standard on the fresh market. It is acclaimed for its remarkable productivity, with commercial yields ranging from 25 to 42 tonnes per hectare , and can even reach 58 tonnes per hectare under optimal conditions. Its earliness, with a 90-day cycle , places it among the first varieties to be harvested. Its broadly oval to round bulb weighs on average 110-150 grams and is distinguished by a thin, golden skin and a mild, slightly spicy flavor, appreciated both raw and cooked. Its storage capacity is exceptional, allowing it to cover the fresh market for several months after harvest.
The Summit F1 Onion , also an early Rijnsburger F1 hybrid, excels in long-term storage, being able to be stored until May after harvesting in August-September. It is known for the roundness of its yellow-brown bulbs, their excellent uniformity, their good firmness (8/10) and remarkable skin quality (9/10) . Its great adaptability allows it to be grown from the North to the South of France.
The Hybound F1 Onion is another essential for long-term storage, capable of lasting until June. Its very round bulbs, with an average size of 60 to 80 mm , have a straw-brown to light brown skin of excellent quality. This medium-early variety offers an optimal balance between yield and quality, with a high tolerance to bolting.
The Boga F1 Onion stands out as the first bulbil with high resistance (HR) to downy mildew (Peronospora destructor), a major asset for crop safety and the reduction of phytosanitary treatments. This late variety, with a very high yield (index 105) , produces a round yellow bulb with very good shelf life (8/10 in skin quality and firmness) . It is specifically intended for the fresh market after prolonged storage.
The Radar Onion , an early and robust winter variety, is mainly intended for the fresh market, with harvesting starting at the end of June. Its bulbs, weighing 90 to 150 grams , can reach 300 grams in optimal conditions. Radar is distinguished by its high and stable resistance to the onion fly and good tolerance to thrips and aphids, thus reducing phytosanitary risks.
Finally, the Stuttgart – Stanfield Onion , a selection of the Stuttgart type, is renowned for its round to slightly flattened bulbs, of medium to large size (50-70 mm) , with excellent winter storage. Its dry matter content of 16% makes it interesting for light processing, although its priority remains the fresh market.
Specialty White Onions: Processing and Fresh Market
White onions offer varied profiles, from fresh consumption to industrial processing.
The Snowpack F1 Onion , a white Stardust hybrid, is primarily designed for processing, particularly industrial dehydration . Its very high dry matter content, 15% higher than that of Stardust, makes it an optimal choice for this market. This small, round bulb, with great firmness (8/10) and skin quality (7/10) , offers a crunchy texture and very high shelf life. Its yield is 75 on the comparative scale , with a recommended seeding rate of 800,000 seeds per hectare .
The White Lady F1 Onion , a long-day F1 hybrid, produces very round, white, and uniform bulbs, with a higher productivity than Albion, a benchmark in the category. Its pure white skin, crisp, juicy texture, and mild flavor make it a popular variety for fresh sale and storage. Its height at maturity varies from 30 to 50 cm .
The Bianca di Giugno – Starlight Onion , a short-day white onion, is mainly intended for the fresh market for bunching. It produces small, neat-looking bulbs, round to slightly flattened, pure white in color and with a firmness of 6/10 . Its indicative yield for this type of use is between 20 and 35 tons per hectare , with a sowing density of one million seeds per hectare .
The Barletta Onion , very early and bright white, is ideal for producing small onions for pickling (shrimp) or for eating fresh, in salads or marinades. Its round bulbs, 2 to 4 cm in diameter , are ready to be harvested about two months after sowing . This variety, sensitive to cold, is more suited to spring sowing in regions with harsh winters.
The Extra-Early Parisian Onion , an old variety over 115 years old, is recognized as the earliest of the white onions , particularly suitable for autumn sowing for harvesting from April/May. Its small round bulbs, which tend to flatten as they grow, are mainly intended for marketing in bunches or for fresh and candied consumption. Its height at maturity is between 30 and 50 cm .
Red Onions: Commercial Differentiation
Red onions offer a range of colors and flavors, often sought after for their visual impact and specific culinary qualities.
The Redlander F1 Onion , the first red onion with high resistance (HR) to late blight (Peronospora destructor), represents a major breakthrough for growers. It is a Rijnsburger with a well-rounded bulb, large in size and a deep, intense red color, suitable for the fresh market and excellent long-term storage.
The Red Bull F1 Onion , a long-day F1 hybrid, is distinguished by its large, round to globular bulbs, 7 to 8 cm in diameter, a very pleasant dark red that penetrates to the center. Its strong, thick skin, as well as its very high firmness (8/10) , give it exceptional storage properties, allowing it to be stored all winter. Its primary use is the fresh market and extended storage.
The Blush F1 Onion is a specialty hybrid variety prized for its unique brownish-pink color and light purple inner rings. Its bulbs are blocky globe-shaped and jumbo-sized, with thick skin that ensures excellent shelf life, up to seven months . Primarily intended for the fresh and early market, it brings a touch of originality for professionals looking to stand out.
Early Start Strategy for Premium Market
The earliness of onion varieties is an essential selection criterion for market gardeners wishing to supply the fresh market from the start of the season. An early harvest allows them to capture market prices that are often more profitable.
The Parisian Extra Early Onion is unanimously recognized as the earliest variety of onions, with a group harvest from April to May for autumn sowing. Its precocity and resistance to cold make it a strategic option to start the season.
The Barletta Onion is also very early, allowing a harvest only two months after sowing , from the end of April to June, depending on the region and the type of use (fresh or early processing).
The Jetset F1 Onion offers remarkable precocity, with an index of 12.5 , placing it approximately 14 days before other similar bulb varieties. This characteristic ensures rapid sale after harvest, from July to September, and allows for early marketing on the fresh market.
The Forum F1 Onion , a Japanese-type F1 hybrid, is a very early variety (index 14) , allowing a significant harvest from mid-June, about a week before the Jagro F1 variety. Its main destination is the fresh market.
These varieties offer growers the flexibility to optimize their production schedule and take advantage of favorable market windows, thus ensuring increased profitability .
Technical Criteria for Crop Optimization
Beyond the reference and precocity, other technical characteristics are fundamental for successful professional production and the diversification of your offer.
Performance Potential and Quality Standards
Yield is a crucial metric for profitability. For storage onions, average yields in France range from 18 to 60 tonnes per hectare , with a common average of 50 tonnes per hectare for well-managed plots. Peak yields can reach 70 to 80 tonnes per hectare under optimal conditions.
Varieties such as Centurion F1 boast yields of 25 to 42 t/ha, rising to 58 t/ha. Troy F1 is positioned between 40 and 70 t/ha. Jetset F1 promises a "very high yield," capable of reaching 40 to 60 t/ha. Forum F1 can also produce between 40 and 60 tonnes per hectare. Varieties such as Bellesco F1 and Red Bull F1 stand out for their good overall yield potential and a yield index of 108 and 110 respectively, which places them above the comparative average.
Quality is inseparable from yield. Large bulbs, such as those of Red Bull F1 (7-8 cm in diameter) or Blush F1 (jumbo size) , are particularly sought after. Consistency of size, essential for packaging and marketing, is a strength of F1 hybrids such as Hylander F1 and Summit F1 .
Varietal Resistance to Bio-aggressors
Disease and pest management is a constant challenge for growers. Developing resistant varieties is a priority for breeders to secure crops and limit the use of plant protection products.
Downy mildew (Peronospora destructor) is one of the most damaging fungal diseases. Boga F1 Onion is a major innovation as the first bulbil resistant to downy mildew (HR:Pd) . This characteristic offers a decisive agronomic advantage, allowing a significant reduction in fungicide treatments. Hylander F1 and Redlander F1 are also recognized for their very high resistance to downy mildew, the former being a benchmark in its category, and the latter, the first red variety to benefit from this protection. Bellesco F1 has intermediate resistance (IR) to downy mildew.
When it comes to thrips (Thrips tabaci) , a major pest that can reduce yields by 20 to 30% , technical documentation does not report specific high genetic resistance for most onion varieties. Snowpack F1 is an exception, displaying intermediate resistance (IR) to thrips. Radar is also cited for its good general resistance, including to thrips.
For Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cepae) and pink rot (Pyrenochaeta terrestris) , most varieties have no major resistance. However, Musica F1 and Red Spring F1 have intermediate resistance (IR) to Foc and Pt. Snowpack F1 also has intermediate resistance to Pt.
Crop rotation for at least 5 years is a fundamental agronomic practice to prevent pressure from soil-borne pests and diseases, a general recommendation applicable to all onion varieties.
Organoleptic Qualities and Commercial Presentation
Visual and taste characteristics are decisive for the commercial value of onions. Skin color is a major aesthetic criterion. Yellow onions vary from golden to coppery, such as the Centurion F1 (golden) or the Storo F1 (copper) . White onions are sought after for their purity, such as the White Lady F1 , while red onions offer intense hues such as the Red Bull F1 (dark red) or more original shades such as the Blush F1 (pinkish-brown) .
Firmness is an indicator of quality and shelf life. Varieties like Red Bull F1 (8/10) or Snowpack F1 (8/10) guarantee excellent firmness and a good crunch. Dry matter, like the very high dry matter of Snowpack F1 (+15% vs Stardust) , contributes to a dense texture and a pronounced crunch, particularly appreciated in processing. Forum F1 (14.5%) offers a balanced, mild to moderately pronounced flavor.
Adaptation to the Cultural Cycle and Production Techniques
Flexibility in the growing calendar is valuable. The Extra-Early Parisian onion can be sown in autumn (August-September) for an early harvest in spring (April-May) or by direct sowing from March to June for a staggered harvest from May to September. The Centurion F1 has a 90-day cycle, positioning itself among the medium-early varieties. The Troy F1, Jetset F1 and Forum F1 varieties are all considered very early for harvests as early as mid-June.
Planting densities vary depending on the variety and size objectives. For hybrids like Centurion F1 , approximately 800,000 to 900,000 plants are planted per hectare . Red Bull F1 recommends 750,000 to 800,000 seeds per hectare . Bianca di Giugno – Starlight requires a higher density, at 1 million seeds per hectare , for bale production.
A balanced fertilization plan is essential. Onions have high requirements for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, with total inputs of approximately 100-150 units/ha of nitrogen, 60-100 units/ha of phosphorus, and 150-220 units/ha of potash , to be split according to the stages of development. Trace elements such as sulfur, boron, manganese, and zinc are also crucial and may require foliar applications. It is imperative to avoid fresh manure in the year of sowing and late excess nitrogen, which can be detrimental to storage.
Mechanized harvesting is facilitated by specific equipment such as onion harvesters (1.30 m to 1.50 m wide), windrowers and combined machines for large farms. Handling is optimized by conveyors, graders and baggers, while long-term storage requires ventilated facilities with humidity and temperature control.
Processing Market: Specialized Opportunities
Although the fresh market is predominant, industrial onion processing represents a significant commercial outlet in France. Industries seek onions for canning, frozen products, and the 4th range (ready-to-use peeled or sliced products). This stable and growing demand offers opportunities for producers.
The Snowpack F1 Onion is specifically designed for dehydration thanks to its very high dry matter content. The Barletta Onion is the benchmark for the production of small onions for pickling or marinades. Other varieties, although mainly intended for fresh storage, can be used in processing thanks to their firmness and storage quality, such as the Centurion F1 or the Stuttgart – Stanfield .
To summarize: Our onion bulbs
Specializing in the professional market, Bulbiverse has established itself as a specialist wholesale supplier of onion bulbs for demanding market gardeners and distribution channel operators. Our certified onion bulbs are rigorously selected for their sanitary quality, their storage capacity and their excellent yield, regardless of the variety chosen: yellow, red or white. Buying onion bulbs from Bulbiverse means benefiting from personalized support, direct access to the best professional selections and a stock available all year round according to your needs. Whether for early production, long-term storage or processing, our bulbs meet market standards. As a specialist wholesale supplier of onion bulbs , we ensure reliable service, responsive logistics and decreasing prices according to volumes. Thanks to a complete offer and homogeneous batches, buying onion bulbs from Bulbiverse allows you to secure your campaigns and achieve your commercial objectives. As a specialist wholesale supplier of onion bulbs , we put our expertise at the service of your success. Don't wait any longer to buy professional-quality onion bulbs .
