VegetableOnion
Karmen Red Onion
Karmen Red Onion is a medium-bulbed, early-maturing red onion that brings reliable uniformity and quick harvest to spring gardens. This open-pollinated, non-GMO cultivar reaches maturity in just 80 days, making it one of the fastest reds to size up. With dark red skin that stands out in both garden rows and kitchen storage, it thrives in zones 3 through 9 and handles cool-season growing with the vigor of a long-day bulbing variety.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-9
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam, Moderately Rich
Growth Stats
18 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
3
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-9
Size
18in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
Early and uniform growth sets this variety apart in the red onion class, producing medium-sized bulbs with distinctly dark red skin that stores reliably through the season. At 80 days to maturity, it matures faster than many red onion varieties while maintaining the dependable yield home gardeners expect. Its cold tolerance and adaptability across zones 3 to 9 mean you can time successive plantings to extend your harvest window.
Common Uses
Karmen Red Onion is grown for fresh use in the kitchen, where its medium bulbs work well for slicing into salads, grilling alongside vegetables, and using in everyday cooking. The dark red skin makes it visually appealing for raw preparations and cooking applications where color matters.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start Karmen Red Onion seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your last spring frost. Maintain soil temperatures between 50 and 70°F for reliable germination. Transplant seedlings outdoors once they've developed 2 to 3 true leaves and the soil can be worked without compacting.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off transplants over 7 to 10 days before moving them to the garden. Plant outdoors after the last frost date when soil is workable, spacing plants 3 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart. These onions are frost-hardy and can tolerate cool spring weather.
Direct Sow
You can direct sow Karmen Red Onion seed in early spring as soon as soil can be worked, but transplants typically give more reliable results in home gardens.
Harvesting
Karmen Red Onion reaches harvest maturity in 80 to 89 days from transplanting. Pull bulbs when the tops begin to yellow and fall over naturally, usually in mid to late summer. Cure harvested onions in a warm, dry, well-ventilated location for 2 to 3 weeks before storage to allow the papery outer layers to harden and the neck to seal. The dark red skin indicates full maturity and proper curing.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Allium cepa
Family
Amaryllidaceae
Genus
Allium
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)