Onions are a part of our diet in so many ways. These biennial plants are in the Amaryllis family and scientifically are known as Allium cepa. They may easily be grown in home gardens or commercially. The small black seeds are planted directly in the field or planted with small bulbs. The plants can tolerate temperatures down to 20 degrees. The underground edible bulbs may be used raw, in cooked foods, salads or fried. Many healthful benefits may be found when including them in our diets.