Spring planting doesn’t start when the air feels warm, It...Read More
Red Creole Onion is an heirloom breed of onion that is renowned for its high heat tolerance and excellent shelf storage lifespan. This onion variety is perfect for growing in hot climates and southern states, and has a particularly high resistance to pink root rot. The bulbs that this plant produces reach 2 to 5 inches in diameter with a deep reddish-purple skin and often appear to be flattened rather than perfectly round. The inner flesh is white with reddish-pink rings and has a slightly spicy bite. Once harvested and kept in a cool, dry place, Red Creole Onions can store for 2 to 3 months! This delicious onion makes a great addition to salads, sandwiches, burgers, or cooked into soups, stews, grilled and more.
NAME: Onion (Allium cepa)
VARIETY: Red Creole
DAYS TO MATURITY: 110 days
POLLINATION: Open Pollinated
TYPE: Biennial
HARDINESS ZONE: Zones 3 – 11
SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
SOIL: Well-draining, fertile soil with a pH 6.0 – 6.8
SPACING: 4 – 6 inches
PLANT HEIGHT: 12 – 16 inches
TEMP: 55 – 85ºF
These seeds do not required stratification.
To learn more about Stratification, click here!
Start seeds indoors in small cell trays with seed starting mix 6 to 10 weeks before your last local spring frost.
Sow thinly and cover with 1/4 inch of seed starting mix.
Keep the soil moist and maintain a temperature of about 65ºF.
Germination will occur in 7 to 14 days.
When seedlings emerge, thin to 2 to 3 seedlings per.
Provide plenty of light on a sunny windowsill or grow 3 inches beneath fluorescent plant lights turned on 16, off 8 hours, raising the lights as the plants grow.
Once the seedings grow to be 5 to 6 inches tall, harden off seedlings for one week. Do this by taking them outside during the day and bringing them in at night (Outside temps should be above 50°F when you start this process).
Transplant the seedlings into your beds spaced 4 inches apart in rows 1 to 2 feet apart.
After your last local spring frost has passed, sow onion seeds in loose, well-draining fertile soil and in a location that receives full sun.
Sow seeds 1 inch apart, 1/4 inch deep, in rows spaced 1 foot apart.
Water in well and seedlings germination will occur in 8 to 15 days.
Once seedlings emerge, thin seedlings so they are spaced 4 inches apart.
Select an area that receives full sun with loose, well-draining fertile soil that has a pH of 6.0-7.0.
Onions are shallow-rooted and grow best with at least 1 inch of water per week via bottom watering or drip irrigation. If the tops are regularly wet, they are more susceptible to disease.
Ample water is important at all stages of growth, especially when bulbs are forming as they tend to dry out during periods of drought.
Mulching around the onions can help with both moisture and weed control.
Onions are heavy feeders; side dress with fertilizer about six weeks after planting.
When 25% of the onion tops have already fallen over and turned yellow, bend the remaining tops to prepare for harvest; after a few days, pull out the onion bulbs and gently remove the dirt and the papery skin on the outer layer.
Lay them out to cure in a single layer in a covered, protected space where temperatures range between 60ºF at night and 80ºF during the day, let them sit for about a week, and try not to touch them.
Freshly harvested onions bruise easily, so it’s important to handle them gently and let them cure with minimal disturbances.
Put cured bulbs in a mesh onion bag or old pantyhose and store in a cool, dry area.
Check occasionally for any wet spots or mold and remove any damaged bulbs immediately to protect the rest.
