(6 Pack) of Allium cepa. Ruby Red Onion plants.100 Days to maturity.
Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, cold tolerant, bulbing, long-day onion. Suitable for growing in greenhouses, garden plots, raised beds, and containers. Ruby has a wonderful burgundy color and a deeply globed shape. It was released sometime around 1965 and is appreciated for its high yields.
How to Grow Ruby Red Onion from starts
Onion is a cool hearty vegetable that can be transplanted 2-3 weeks prior to final spring frost or about 1-2 weeks before the first autumn frost. Soil should be well-tilled, nitrogen-rich, with a pH of 6.0-7.0. For outdoor setting, create a deep 2-3 inch deep hole/trench space 4-6 inches apart .
Ruby Red Onions take about 115 days to mature after planting starts in the ground. Wait until the ground is not frozen, and is between 60-85°. Onions thrive in soil that drains well but still needs to be dense in nutrients. As the onion grows, you may see green flower stalk appear, cut that off so the plants energy goes to the bulb not the seeds. Allow the tops of onions to fall and die before harvesting your crop. If any bulbs are too small to be consumed they can be saved and planted next year. A mature Ruby Red Onion will have burgundy skin and white and burgundy flesh.
Ruby Red Onion in the Vegetable Garden
Onion is a cold hardy favorite able to be sown in either spring or fall for an effortless biannual harvest. Onions are often started in the garden from store-bought bulbs.
When planting, look to see if a "long-day" or a "short-day" onion variety is best suited for the summers in your region. Try an onion crop in the garden bed alongside similar garlic, shallots, or leeks.
Harvesting Ruby Red Onion
Most onions sown in the spring are ready for harvest about 90 days from sowing and seeds planted in the fall can mature as early as May or June the following year. Onions are ready to harvest once the plants" greens have dried out, yellowed, and begun to bow over. Loosen the soil from the bulb to check for consistent coloring while allowing the bulb to further dry. red onions do not store as well as more pungent yellow and brown varieties.
About Ruby Red Onion starts
Long Day Variety. Large red bulbing onion that has a mild sweet flavor. Can get up to 6 inches across and weigh over a pound or more.
It is a good keeper as well for those country cooks!
It is important to dry your onions in the garden first for proper storage. Pull them up on a sunny day and let them dry in the sun for two days to cure, or hang, or layout in a shady spot with a breeze. Then store them in a cool dry place.
The Ruby Red Onion is a great slicing onion. It goes perfect on Patty Melt and is great as a grilled onion. Ruby Red Onions are known for being medium sized and these onions make great onions for sandwiches as well. Delicious in marinara, chili, or stew.