VegetableOnion
Southport White Globe 404 Onion
Southport White Globe 404 is a classic heirloom onion that delivers the bold, pungent flavor serious cooks have relied on for generations. These medium-sized white globe-shaped bulbs mature in 100 to 109 days and grow reliably in hardiness zones 2 through 9, making them accessible to gardeners across most of North America. Cold-tolerant and open-pollinated, this variety produces firm onions with enough punch to anchor soups, stews, and caramelized dishes with genuine depth. You can grow them in garden beds, raised beds, or even under glass, giving you flexibility in how you garden.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-9
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam, Moderately Rich
Growth Stats
24 in
Height
Spacing
3
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-9
Size
24in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
The strength of Southport White Globe lies in its unwavering pungency and reliable globe shape. These bulbs are firm enough to store well and slice cleanly, delivering the assertive onion character that elevates cooking from competent to memorable. As a long-day, cold-tolerant, open-pollinated variety, it's a bulking onion bred to perform across diverse growing regions without genetic modification or complicated hybrid vigor.
Common Uses
Southport White Globe onions shine in any application where you want onion flavor to take center stage. Their pungent character makes them exceptional in cooked dishes, caramelized onions, French onion soup, and slow-braised stews where their assertiveness deepens and mellows beautifully. They're sturdy enough for storage, making them valuable for gardeners who want to extend their harvest through the winter months.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds in early spring as soon as soil can be worked, spacing seeds about 1/4 inch apart and thinning seedlings to 3 inches apart once they emerge. This long-day onion needs the full growing season to reach maturity.
Harvesting
Southport White Globe onions are ready to harvest 100 to 109 days after planting, typically in late summer. Watch for the tops to yellow and fall over naturally, a key signal that the bulbs have finished sizing and are ready to lift. Gently dig the bulbs from the soil and cure them in a warm, well-ventilated space for two to three weeks before storing, which firms up the papery skin and seals the neck.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Allium cepa
Family
Amaryllidaceae
Genus
Allium
Native Status
L48 (I)
History & Origin
“The Southport strain of onions emerged from the Connecticut growing region in the 19th century and became a benchmark for American onion breeding. Charles Johnson, a prominent seed merchant, was among the first to list and distribute Southport White Globe seeds, helping establish this variety as a standard in home and commercial gardens. Its enduring presence in seed catalogs speaks to the reliability that gardeners across generations have placed in this heirloom type.”