Onion cultivars can be distinguished based on:
- Day Length Sensitivity: Cultivars are bred for long, medium, and short days, depending on the geographical latitude of the growing area.
- Cultivation Method: Cultivars are designed for spring or summer/autumn sowing, or for growing directly from seed, from transplants, or from sets.
In terms of purpose, onions intended for storage are bred for a longer dormancy period, while those for drying are selected for a higher percentage of dry matter (over 18%).
- Color of Dry Outer Scales: Yellow-brown, yellow, brown, red, purple.
- Color of Thickened Leaf Sheaths: White, purple, pink with varying intensities.
- Bulb Shape
Varieties for Direct Sowing (Bejo Zaden): The number of days indicates the period from sowing to technological maturity.
| Variety | Days | Color | Skin Firmness | % Dry Matter | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboy F1 | 97 | Yellow-brown | Good | Short | |
| Safrane F1 | 105 | Yellow-brown | Very Good | Excellent | |
| Tamara F1 | 109 | Yellow-brown | Very Good | 11.5 | Excellent |
| Twist F1 | 109 | Dark Brown | Good | Good | |
| Sedona F1 | 112 | Darker Yellow-brown | Very Good | Good | |
| Talon F1 | 113 | Yellow-brown | Very Good | Excellent | |
| Manas F1 | 114 | Yellow-brown | Very Good | Excellent | |
| Daytona F1 | 115 | Dark Brown | Good | 12.0 | Good |
| Legend F1 | 121 | Dark Brown | Very Good | 9.6 | Excellent |
| Robin | 108 | Red | Good | 10.0 | Good |
| Redwing F1 | 111 | Red | Good | 11.0 | Good |
| Gladstone | 125 | Red | Good | 8.9 | Excellent |
Varieties for Winter Production (Bejo Zaden):
- SIBIR: Round, uniform yellow bulbs with a very attractive appearance. A very early variety intended for winter cultivation.
- RADAR: A mid-early variety with beautiful, round bulbs and very thin yellow skins. Sown in early August, it can be grown directly or transplanted in the fall. It can also be sown in spring for set production and planted in fall for spring or very early onion harvest, with short-term storage potential.
- SWIFT: An early variety with round-flat heads, produced similarly to Radar. It has thin, golden-yellow skin. This variety is very productive.
- ELECTRIC: A red variety intended for winter cultivation. The bulbs are dark red, shiny, and round. Can be grown from sets or direct sowing, and also suitable as young onions.
- GLACIER: This variety can almost entirely replace silver onions. It has white bulbs without green coloration and upright leaves, similar to Radar. Can be used as young onions.
- EXHIBITION: An attractive-looking variety with very large dimensions, producing round, juicy bulbs with a very good taste. Intended only for fresh consumption, recommended for winter production in the Mediterranean climate, with sowing in August and transplanting in October, and harvesting expected in June/July. There is a slight risk of premature bolting.
- PARADE: Designed for the production of young onions, sold in bunches. Grows quickly and has low light requirements, making it very successful for winter cultivation in protected areas. Can be grown year-round as young onions, with upright, firm, dark green leaves. The bulb does not form a rounded thickening.
- PERFORMER: Does not form a thickened bulb. The leaves are dark green and very healthy, intended for dense planting for young onion production, sold in bunches.
Varieties for Production from Sets (Bejo Zaden):
Stur BC 20: A mid-late variety with a good root system and strong foliage. The bulbs are round with a high dry matter content and good storage ability. Moderately tolerant to bolting.
Forum F1: A new, very early hybrid from our breeding program. Matures a week earlier than other known early varieties. The bulbs are round, with a beautiful yellow color, and very productive. Intended for fresh consumption.
Troy F1: A very early hybrid with good tolerance to bolting. The bulbs have a nice yellow skin and are round to flat-round in shape.
Hercules F1: This hybrid matures in the mid-early category. It is tolerant to premature bolting. It grows vigorously, quickly forms a root system, and yields abundantly. The bulbs are round, yellow, and very uniform. Suitable for long-term storage, fresh consumption, and processing due to the high dry matter content.
