Flat of Italy Bulb Cipollini Onion is a distinctive variety that brings Italian heritage to the home garden, prized for its characteristically flat, disc-like bulbs that set it apart from traditional round onions. Maturing in just 70 days, this frost-hardy cultivar thrives in zones 3 through 9, making it accessible to gardeners across most of North America. The variety rewards early planning with bigger bulbs, so starting seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before your last frost gives you the best results. Sow in spring as soon as soil reaches 45°F, thin to proper spacing, and you'll have mature bulbs ready by early summer.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-9
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Moderate
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Flat of Italy Bulb Cipollini delivers the authentic flavor and elegant form that Italian cooks have cherished for generations. The flat, coin-shaped bulbs are unmistakable and cook down beautifully, becoming sweet and tender when roasted or braised. At 70 days to maturity, it's one of the quicker onions to harvest, yet early indoor seeding rewards you with noticeably larger bulbs. This variety handles cool-season planting well as a frost-hardy crop, thriving in full sun with moderate water and performing reliably across hardiness zones 3 to 9.
Flat of Italy Bulb Cipollini is a culinary onion celebrated in Italian cooking, particularly for roasting and braising where its flat shape allows for even cooking and its mild, sweet character shines through. The bulbs are also excellent pickled, grilled whole, or slow-roasted as a side dish. Fresh cipollini are sometimes enjoyed raw in salads when very young and tender.
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Start seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before your average last frost date for the largest bulbs. Sow seeds ¼ inch deep in seed-starting mix and keep the soil temperature between 60°F and 85°F, though germination will occur at temperatures as low as 45°F. Transplant seedlings outdoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost date when they are ready to move to the garden.
Transplant seedlings outdoors 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date. Harden off plants gradually by exposing them to outdoor conditions for a few days before final planting. Space transplants 8 inches apart in rows 8 inches apart. Firm soil around each plant and water gently to settle the soil.
You can sow seeds directly outside 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date, or as soon as the soil can be worked and reaches at least 45°F, though indoor starting is recommended for larger bulbs.
Harvest Flat of Italy Bulb Cipollini when the bulbs reach mature size and the foliage begins to brown and dry down, typically 70 days after sowing. You can begin harvesting as soon as the flat bulbs are usable size, or wait until foliage dies back completely for storage onions. Gently loosen soil around each bulb with a fork and pull by hand, brushing away excess soil. Allow harvested bulbs to cure in a warm, dry location with good air circulation for a few days to harden the skin before storing.
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