VegetableOnion
Borettana Yellow Cipollini Onion
The Borettana Yellow Cipollini Onion is a storied Italian heirloom that delivers what gourmet cooks have treasured for generations: sweet, mild bulbs with a distinctive flat, button-like shape. Hardy across zones 2 through 9, this short-day variety reaches maturity in 100 to 109 days, producing small bulbs just 3 to 4 inches wide and about 1 inch thick that are as charming to grow as they are delicious to eat. Open-pollinated and cold tolerant, it thrives in gardens, raised beds, and containers, making it accessible whether you're a seasoned grower or starting your first vegetable patch.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-9
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam, Moderately Rich
Growth Stats
24 in
Height
Spacing
3
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-9
Size
24in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
These Italian cipollini onions earn their gourmet reputation through their naturally sweet, mellow flavor and tender texture that softens beautifully when caramelized or roasted. The flat, coin-shaped bulbs are small enough to work whole in the kitchen and have a sophisticated appearance that makes them feel special on the plate. Because they're a short-day type cold tolerant and open-pollinated, you can save seeds season after season and grow them reliably across a wide hardiness range.
Common Uses
Borettana Yellow Cipollini Onions are exceptional when roasted whole or halved, their natural sweetness intensifying as they caramelize to golden tenderness. They're equally at home pickled for antipasti, braised in wine, or simply grilled to showcase their delicate flavor. The small size makes them perfect for eating whole in cooked dishes, and their mild character means they won't overpower delicate preparations. Raw, they slice into thin rings for salads where their sweetness provides sophisticated contrast.
Growing Timeline
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Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost, sowing them 1/4 inch deep in seed trays. Keep soil temperature around 70°F for reliable germination. Transplant seedlings to individual containers once they develop their first true leaves, and harden off for 7 to 10 days before moving outdoors.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant hardened seedlings outdoors after the last spring frost, spacing them 3 inches apart in rows 15 inches apart. Choose a location with full sun and well-draining soil. Water gently after transplanting to settle soil around roots.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds outdoors in spring once soil is workable, planting 1/4 inch deep in rows 15 inches apart. Thin seedlings to 3 inches apart once they develop true leaves. Direct sowing works well in regions with longer growing seasons.
Harvesting
Harvest Borettana Yellow Cipollini Onions when the foliage begins to yellow and collapse, typically around 100 to 109 days after planting. The bulbs should feel firm when gently pressed and the outer papery skin should rustle when handled. Gently lift bulbs from the soil, brush away excess dirt, and allow them to cure in a warm, well-ventilated space for two to three weeks before storage. In fall plantings, harvest before the first hard freeze to ensure bulbs cure properly.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Allium cepa
Family
Amaryllidaceae
Genus
Allium
Native Status
L48 (I)
History & Origin
“Cipollini onions have deep roots in Italian culinary tradition, where they've been cultivated for centuries as a prized ingredient in regional kitchens. The Borettana Yellow variety carries that heritage forward as an heirloom open-pollinated type, preserved and passed down through generations of gardeners who recognized its superior flavor and reliable growth. This variety represents the living history of Italian seed saving and vegetable cultivation, connecting modern gardeners directly to the agricultural practices and culinary values of Mediterranean communities.”