Red Geneva is a stunning Cipollini onion that brings deep purple-red color and rich flavor to any garden. These onions develop handsome, glossy bulbs with a characteristically flattened shape, typically reaching 2.5 to 3.5 inches across. Taking around 105 days to mature, they're slightly slower than yellow varieties but reward patience with exceptional depth of flavor that shines both fresh and in cooked dishes. Growing 14 to 24 inches tall with a compact footprint, Red Geneva fits nicely into space-conscious gardens while delivering the complex sweetness Cipollini onions are prized for.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-10
24in H x 6in W
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Moderate
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The deep purple-red color alone makes Red Geneva a showstopper in the kitchen, but what truly sets it apart is how that striking appearance pairs with genuinely excellent flavor. The semi-flat shape and smaller size make these onions perfect for caramelizing whole or slicing into delicate rings. At 105 days, they take longer to mature than yellow cousins, but that extra time builds the rich, sweet complexity that makes Cipollini varieties so prized by cooks who know them.
Red Geneva shines in fresh eating, where its glossy appearance and mild sweetness make it as much a visual element as a flavor one. These onions caramelize beautifully when roasted whole or halved, their natural sugars concentrating into deep, jammy richness. Sliced thin for salads or pickled for charcuterie boards, they bring both color and a gentler onion flavor than storage varieties. General cooking applications benefit from their balanced sweetness, making them equally at home in braises, soups, or simply grilled alongside other vegetables.
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Red Geneva cipollinis are ready around 105 days after planting. Harvest when the foliage begins to naturally yellow and fall over, a sign the bulbs have finished their growth cycle and are ready for storage. Gently loosen soil around each plant and pull carefully to avoid bruising the delicate purple-red skin. For use as fresh onions, harvest slightly earlier when bulbs reach desired size but tops are still green.
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