Top Varieties: Best Red Onions to Grow from Seed

Want to grow the best red onions from seed but don’t know where to start? In this post we’ll cover top red onion varieties that are easy to grow from seed, along with their flavours, growing conditions and storage. Find your perfect red onion variety for a great harvest.

Key Points

• Choose the right red onion variety, like Red Baron for storage or Ruby Red for cooking, for your garden and your cooking needs.

• Proper care, soil prep, watering and pest management is key to healthy growth and high yields of red onions.

• Harvest red onions when the tops yellow and fall over and dry properly to extend shelf life.

Red Onion Varieties for Home Gardeners

Choosing the right onion variety is key to a good harvest. Each red onion has its own flavour and growing conditions so some are better for certain climates and uses. From the robust ‘Red Baron’ to the mild and versatile Ruby Red, there’s a red onion for every home gardener.

Red Baron onions have dark red skin and strong flavour, great for storing in many climates. Red Creole onions are short day and medium strong flavour, good for cooking and storing for several months. Each variety has its own merits, including medium sized bulbs, and knowing these can help you choose the best for your garden.

Trying different red onion varieties will help you find the one that suits your taste and climate. Whether you want an onion with long storage life or one that grows in cooler climates, there’s a red onion for you.

Red Onion Karminka

£1.49

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A red elliptical shaped onion that is highly recommended.....

Average Contents : 200 seeds

Red Onion Red Baron

£1.69

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Produces globed, to semi globed shaped bulbs that.....

Average Contents : 250 seeds

Red Onion Ruby Red

£1.69

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A mild flavoured onion that is slightly sweet and slightly sharp.....

Average Contents : 200 seeds

Red Baron

The Red Baron onion has dark red skin and strong, bold flavour that adds oomph to any dish. This variety is not only tasty but also practical for home gardeners. It’s widely available as seed and sets so perfect for beginners growing onions. The Red Baron has the RHS Award of Garden Merit, a nod to its good qualities in the garden.

But Red Baron onions can bolt in southern England so that’s something to consider if you’re a gardener in that region. Despite that, its strong flavour and looks make it a favourite among many gardeners.

Whether used fresh or stored for later, Red Baron onions are a reliable and tasty choice.

Red Onion Ruby Red

Ruby Red onions are a great addition to any garden, with a mild, slightly sweet and sharp flavour that’s good in the kitchen. This variety is best for northern regions as it’s a long day variety and does well in full sun. Ruby Red onions are frost hardy so can grow in cooler climates and are a good choice for gardeners in colder areas. Sweet onions will also complement the flavour of Ruby Red onions in many dishes.

Ruby Red onion seeds are available in various packet sizes so getting started with growing onions is easy. Planting onions can be a fun experience and you can enjoy their flavour and growth in your garden.

Karminka

The Karminka onion has an elongated shape and red skin so it’s a great looking addition to any garden. Mild flavour, Karminka onions are good for slicing and adding to salads or onion rings, fresh and mild flavour that goes with many dishes.

Karminka onions have good storage but not for overwintering so they’re perfect for immediate use or short term storage. Their shape and flavour is a favourite among gardeners who want to try something different.

Growing Red Onions from Seeds: Top Tips

Growing red onions from seeds can be fun, if you get fresh and tasty onions all year round. The process involves three steps: starting seeds indoors, transplanting seedlings outdoors and direct sowing. Each method has its pros and cons but with the right tips you’ll know how to grow onions for a good harvest.

Starting seeds indoors is a good way to get a jump start on the season, especially in shorter growing regions. Transplanting seedlings outdoors requires good soil preparation and timing, direct sowing is a simple method that will give you a big harvest if done right.

Follow these top tips and you’ll be growing healthy red onions. Whether you’re a beginner or an old hand, these will help you get a good crop.

Seed Starting Indoors

Starting onion seeds indoors in mid to late winter will give you robust growth by late spring. Use modular trays filled with peat free compost and plant 5 seeds per module for good germination. A sunny windowsill or greenhouse will give the young plants the light they need until they’re ready to be transplanted outdoors.

Onions love soil rich in organic matter so incorporating compost or well rotted manure into your seed starting mix will help growth. This method of starting seeds indoors will give you earlier maturing plants and a more organized planting process when the weather warms up.

Transplanting Outdoors

Transplanting onion seedlings outdoors is best in March or April but some gardeners also do autumn planting in September or October. Before transplanting make sure the soil is well prepared and free draining to give the best conditions for growth. Space the seedlings 5-10cm apart so each plant has room to mature.

A sunny spot with good drainage is essential for growth. Regular weeding and watering during dry periods will keep the plants healthy and growing.

Direct Sowing

Direct sowing red onion seeds in March or April will give you a good crop if done right. Sow the seeds 1.3cm deep in rows 20cm apart for good growth and development. This method is simple and will work well in longer growing regions.

Make sure the soil is well prepared and weed free before sowing seed and the seeds will germinate and grow into healthy plants. Regular moisture and spacing will give you a good harvest.

Soil and Site

Soil and site preparation are key to growing healthy red onions. Onions love well draining soil rich in organic matter to improve fertility and structure. Don’t overwater as this can cause bulb rot and other problems.

Choose a sunny spot to plant as onions need full sun to grow and bulb. Don’t plant onions in areas where onions or related plants have been grown to minimize disease.

Soil Requirements

Onions prefer well draining soil that is neutral to slightly alkaline. The ideal pH is above 6.5 and if necessary add lime in the fall to reduce acidity. Adding organic matter like compost or well rotted manure before planting will improve soil fertility and structure for the onions.

Adding balanced fertiliser during soil preparation will prevent autumn planted onions from flowering too early and overall plant health.

Where to Plant

Choose a sunny spot with well draining soil for red onions. Full sun will give better bulb development and overall plant health so it’s an important factor in site selection.

Red Onion Care

Regular care is key to the health and productivity of your red onions. This means watering, feeding, weeding and mulching. Proper care will give you vigorous growth and high yields and a good harvest.

Protecting onion plants from strong winds is also important as delicate foliage can be damaged and affect overall plant health. Follow these care guidelines and your red onions will thrive all season.

Watering and Feeding

Water your red onions every 2 weeks during dry periods but stop once the bulbs start to swell in mid summer. This will help the bulbs store well and keep their quality. Proper watering will give you vigorous growth and high yields so it’s an important part of onion care.

Feed your onions with balanced fertiliser during the growing season to give them all the nutrients they need to grow.

Weeding and Mulching

Weeding is important for red onions as weeds compete for nutrients and water and will hinder bulb growth. Regular hand weeding or hoeing will keep the area weed free and healthy for the onions.

Mulching will help retain soil moisture and suppress weed growth and will give extra benefits for the red onions. This will give you healthier plants and a bigger harvest.

Pests and Diseases

Knowing and managing common pests and diseases is key to keeping your red onions healthy. Early detection and specific solutions will prevent and control these problems and give you a healthy crop.

Onion Fly

Onion fly is a common pest that can devastate your red onions. Signs of infestation are yellowing leaves and patches of seedlings dying due to larvae feeding on the bulbs and lower stems. If not controlled the larvae can cause significant damage and will give off a foul smell as the affected bulbs start to rot.

Management involves regular monitoring and taking preventative measures to protect your onions from this pest.

Downy Mildew

Downy mildew is another common problem for onions. Signs are yellow leaf tips, fine whitish down on infected areas, dull brown-purple foliage. Management involves crop rotation, cleaning up infected material, good spacing for air flow and good drainage.

These will help prevent downy mildew and keep your onion crop healthy.

Harvesting and Storing Red Onions

Harvesting red onions at the right time and storing properly will extend their shelf life and keep their quality. When the tops start to fall over it’s time to harvest.

Harvest Time

Harvest red onions when the tops start to yellow and fall over. Harvest before the foliage dies down completely for best storage.

Proper Drying

Proper drying is important for curing onions before storing. Onions should be laid out in a warm dry place for about 2 weeks to dry out before storing. This will help the outer skins to become completely papery and will extend their storage life.

If you can’t dry outdoors due to wet weather, a well ventilated shed or greenhouse will be an alternative.

Benefits of Growing Red Onions

Growing red onions has many benefits beyond cooking. They are low in calories and sodium so they’re good for you. Eating raw red onions will give you the most benefits as they contain more flavonoids which are known for their antioxidant properties.

Plus red onions are one of the easiest vegetable to grow, requires little space and gives reliable harvest. High yield and easy to grow makes them perfect for both beginners and experienced gardeners. By growing your own red onions you will add diversity to your garden and have fresh onions all year round.

Conclusion

In summary growing red onions from seeds can be fun, gives you an abundance of tasty and healthy onions for your kitchen. Choose the right varieties like ‘Red Baron’ or Ruby Red, prepare your soil and site properly and follow the growing tips and you will have a successful harvest. Regular care, pest management and proper harvesting will give you even better results. So why not start your onion growing today and enjoy the many benefits of these versatile and colourful vegetables?

FAQs

When do I start onion seeds indoors?

• Start onion seeds indoors mid to late winter so they will be ready for your garden in late spring.

How do I know when to harvest my red onions?

• When the tops start to yellow and fall over it’s time to harvest. That’s a clear sign they are ready to eat!

What are the benefits of growing red onions?

• Growing red onions is good because they’re low in calories, full of healthy flavonoids and easy to grow so you’ll get a good yield. They’re good to eat too!

How do I water my red onions during the growing season?

• Water your red onions every 2 weeks during dry spells but once they start to swell in mid summer stop watering to store properly.