Pacific Pearl Onion is a quick-maturing cultivar that reaches harvest in just 50 days, making it one of the fastest onions you can grow. Bred for productivity in cool to moderate climates (zones 3-10), this variety thrives across most of North America and delivers reliable results whether you're direct seeding or transplanting. Its compact 2-inch spacing requirement means you can tuck more plants into tight garden beds, and its frost-hardy nature lets you push planting into shoulder seasons when many other crops won't survive.
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High
3-10
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Moderate
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Fifty days from seed to harvest sets Pacific Pearl apart in a category where many varieties demand 100+ days of patience. The compact spacing and frost-hardy character make it genuinely practical for short-season gardeners and container growers working with limited real estate. Direct seeding is straightforward, transplants handle the process well, and the variety's speed means you can succession-plant for continuous harvests through the growing season.
As a fast-maturing onion variety, Pacific Pearl works well for fresh eating when harvested young at the scallion stage, offering tender green stalks and mild bulbs. The rapid 50-day timeline also makes it suitable for succession planting in spring and early summer gardens, allowing multiple sowings within a single growing season for extended harvests.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow 10-12 seeds in a 4 to 6-inch pot filled with moist seed-starting mix. Maintain soil temperatures between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit for germination. If seedling tops exceed 5 inches before transplant time, trim them back to 3 inches to encourage stronger root development. Plan your sowing 6-8 weeks before your target transplant date.
When seedlings are ready, carefully separate individual plants and place them in a shallow trench in your garden bed. Set plants 2 inches apart with rows spaced 12 inches wide. Fill the trench around the seedlings and water in thoroughly. Transplanting works best when soil has warmed to at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Direct sow seeds outdoors once soil temperatures reach 50 degrees Fahrenheit and can be maintained in the 50-70 degree range for consistent germination. Plant at the depth specified for your seed packet, keeping the seedbed moist until germination occurs.
For scallions, harvest when plants reach pencil size or larger by gently pulling or cutting at soil level. Wash and trim the roots before storage. For bulbing onions, watch for the tops to begin falling over naturally; once about half the tops have fallen, push over the remainder and wait approximately one week before harvesting. Loosen soil around bulbs gently to encourage drying, then harvest in dry weather. Remove any onions that have sent up flower stalks before they fully mature, as these will not store well.
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