Red Onion
Redwing Onion is a reliable F1 hybrid red onion bred for long storage and steady performance across hardiness zones 3 through 10. Maturing in approximately 118 days from transplants, this compact variety produces deep red bulbs that keep exceptionally well in cool storage. Its frost-hardy nature and adaptability to diverse climates make it a dependable choice for gardeners seeking a storage onion that performs year after year without fuss.
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High
3-10
?in H x ?in W
Biennial (Grown As Annual)
Moderate
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This hybrid red onion has earned its reputation as a long-storage champion, remaining viable for months when kept in cool conditions. The compact growth habit means you can space plants closely (just 2 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart), maximizing yield in tight garden spaces. Its frost hardiness and ability to thrive across zones 3 through 10 removes regional doubt; whether you're in Minnesota winters or milder climates, Redwing performs reliably.
Redwing Onion is grown primarily as a storage bulb for kitchen use. The deep red bulbs work beautifully in raw applications where color matters, sliced thin for salads, pickled, or caramelized for soups and stews. As a long-storage variety, it's the onion you plant in spring or early summer and harvest in late summer or early fall, then keep on hand through winter for sustained cooking.
Sow indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost date in 128-cell trays, placing one seed per cell and covering with 1/4 inch of soil. Germination occurs at temperatures between 50 and 70°F. If seedling tops exceed 5 inches before transplant time, clip them back to 3 inches to encourage sturdy growth.
When seedlings are ready, carefully separate them and place in shallow trenches, spacing 2 inches apart in rows 12 to 18 inches apart. Fill the trench around seedlings and water in well. Transplant 4 inches apart if using standard spacing, or 2 inches for tighter, high-density plantings. This variety tolerates frost, so transplanting can occur as soon as soil is workable in spring.
Direct seeding is possible but less common for this variety. Thin seedlings to the strongest plant when they reach 4 to 5 inches tall.
Harvest Redwing Onion when approximately half the tops have fallen over naturally. Push over any remaining upright tops and wait about one week before harvesting. This timing allows the bulb's papery protective skin to fully develop, essential for long storage. Loosen the soil around bulbs with a gentle hand to ease harvesting and encourage faster drying. Always harvest in dry weather; bulbs harvested during or immediately after rain will not cure properly and risk rotting. Once harvested, cure the onions in a warm, airy location with good air circulation before moving to storage.
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