Red Onion
Red Baron is a deep red onion cultivar prized for its striking color and reliable 60-day maturity. Hardy across zones 3 through 10, this variety thrives in full sun with consistent moisture and well-draining soil. The deep purple-red skin and flesh make it a standout both in the garden and on the plate, while its frost-hardy nature means you can push planting earlier in spring than many other onion varieties.
Set your location to see if this variety matches your area
Full Sun
High
7-10
192in H x ?in W
Biennial (Grown As Annual)
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
The deep crimson color runs all the way through the bulb, making Red Baron visually distinctive compared to yellow or white onions. Seeds germinate reliably between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and you'll be harvesting full-sized bulbs in just 60 days from direct seeding. Its frost tolerance gives gardeners flexibility for early spring planting, and the compact 2-inch spacing means you can grow a surprising number in a small area.
Red Baron onions work beautifully raw in salads and slaws, where their color adds visual drama alongside their crisp texture. They're equally at home caramelized for French onion soup, roasted whole as a side dish, or thinly sliced into sandwiches and grain bowls. The red pigmentation holds reasonably well through cooking, though it will fade somewhat, making them a good choice when you want color to matter in the finished dish.
Sow seeds indoors up to 10 to 12 seeds per 4- to 6-inch pot. If seedling tops reach over 5 inches before transplanting, cut them back to 3 inches to encourage stockier growth. Days to maturity are calculated from direct seeding, so indoor starting shifts your harvest date accordingly.
When seedlings are large enough to handle, carefully separate them and plant in a shallow trench. Fill the trench around seedlings and water in well. Space plants 2 inches apart with rows 12 inches apart.
In early spring when danger of hard frost is over, sow seeds directly in well-worked, fertile soil in full sun. Space seeds 1 inch apart in rows 8 to 10 inches apart. Firm soil well over the irregularly shaped seeds to ensure good contact and reliable germination. If the first planting comes up unevenly, sow more seeds as seedlings will catch up quickly. Thin seedlings to 3 to 4 inches apart once they're large enough to handle.
Red Baron reaches maturity in 60 days from direct seeding. Harvest when about half the tops have fallen over naturally, then push down the remaining foliage and wait about 1 week before pulling bulbs. Loosen the soil around bulbs before harvesting to encourage drying and ease removal. Always harvest in dry weather; onions picked during wet conditions cure poorly and are susceptible to rot. Once harvested, cure bulbs thoroughly before storage to develop a protective papery skin.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.