Their use goes back over 4,000 years beyond the beginnings of written history. Onions are probably natives of Southern Asia or the Mediterranean region. They have long been valued in China and India for their flavoring. In Egypt they were worshipped before the Christian era, and in Britain onions also played a part in the Druid rites.
Onions are cool-season vegetables and grow successfully in Arkansas gardens.
They may be grown from transplants, sets or seeds, but transplants or sets are best suited for Arkansas. In all three methods, the onions are planted as soon as the garden can be tilled in February through April. Good fertility, adequate moisture and cool temperatures aid development. Onions start bulb formation when the day length is of the proper duration. Different varieties of onions require different day length to initiate bulbing.