Gold Coin Onion is a compact, open-pollinated variety that delivers very flat, bright yellow bulbs ready to harvest in just 80 days from seed. Growing reliably in zones 3-11, this frost-hardy onion offers a unique twist on traditional bulbing varieties: it produces tender mini onions without fully formed skin during the first 2-3 months of the season, making it exceptionally easy to wash and prepare fresh. The flat profile and quick maturity make it a practical choice for gardeners seeking early-season harvests and minimal storage requirements.
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Moderate
3-11
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High
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Gold Coin's defining trait is its lack of skin formation during early growth, delivering tender, washable mini onions straight from the garden without the papery layers typical of storage onions. The very flat, golden-yellow bulbs are compact and uniform, reaching maturity in under three months even in cool growing regions. Its frost-hardy nature means gardeners in colder zones can push planting dates and extend the harvest window into autumn.
Gold Coin Onion is grown primarily for fresh consumption of its tender, early-season mini bulbs. The absence of heavy skin makes these onions ideal for washing and using fresh in salads, light cooking, and garnishing, rather than long-term storage. Gardeners typically harvest by pulling the bunch whenever needed throughout the growing season, taking advantage of the variety's extended early-harvest window.
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Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your target transplant date. Sow at a depth of approximately 1/4 inch and maintain soil temperatures between 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit for germination. Seeds are slow to germinate and may take 10-14 days to emerge; keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged during this period.
Transplant hardened-off seedlings into the garden once soil temperatures reach at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit and the threat of severe frost has passed. Space plants at a distance appropriate for your desired bulb size; closer spacing produces smaller, tender bulbs ideal for fresh use. Plant at the same depth they were growing indoors.
Direct sow seeds outdoors in early spring as soon as soil can be worked, or in late summer for fall harvest. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in fertile, well-draining soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0. Keep the seedbed consistently moist until plants are established.
Begin pulling Gold Coin Onions by the bunch whenever needed, starting as early as 2-3 weeks after transplanting for tender, skin-free mini onions. The variety does not form a protective papery skin until 2-3 months into the season, so early harvests yield soft, easily washed bulbs perfect for immediate use. Continue harvesting throughout the season as bulbs reach your preferred size. Mature bulbs will eventually develop skin and can be left in the ground longer for storage onions, though the variety is primarily grown for fresh, early-season use.
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