Rossa di Milano – Organic Pelleted Onion Seed

New! Our superior strain of this classic, long-day Italian OP. Organic seed with NOP-compliant pelleting.An onion so lovely, it’s a shame to eat it. Selected by Johnny’s breeder Dr. John Navazio under tough organic growing conditions, our ‘Rossa di Milano’ strain is up to 10 days earlier than others boasting the same name. One of the most thrips-resistant long-day onions in our trials. Bulbs are large to colossal in size and exhibit the true grano shape with distinctly flattened tops. Suited for long storage (6+ months) with thin necks that easily dry down. Strong, bronze-pink skins and great uniformity. An excellent cooking onion, Rossa di Milano contributes an abundance of sweetness and pungency to any cuisine. Your new favorite onion. Can be successfully grown in the northern reaches of the intermediate-day region. Adaptation: 38–50° latitude. USDA Certified Organic. Avg. 15,000 seeds/lb.
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Allium cepa
CULTURE: Onions require full sun and fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0–7.0. Sandy loam soils are ideal; in heavier soils, use raised beds or raised rows to promote soil drainage.
DIRECT SEEDING: In April or early May, or as soon as the soil can be prepared in early spring, sow in a 2" wide band, about 2 seeds/in., 1/4– 1/2" deep, rows 12–18" apart. Thin to 1 1/2–2" apart for highest yields in fertile soil. Thin to 3-4" apart for larger onions.
TRANSPLANTING: In short-season areas, sow seeds indoors in flats in late February to mid-March. Broadcast 1/2" apart and cover 1/4". Tops may be clipped to 5" tall. Transplant to the garden 4" apart, or sow 5 seeds in each cell of 1–1 1/2" diameter plug trays, thinning to 3 per cell. Transplant each cell 6" apart.
CULTIVATION: Keep onions well weeded with shallow cultivation.
WATER: Onions are shallow-rooted and grow best with at least 1" per week of rain or irrigation, especially during the bulbing phase.
DISEASES: Adequate air circulation and crop rotation aids in reducing the risk of foliar disease.
HARVEST: When necks become soft and tops are falling over, pull and sun-cure at least 2–7 days, depending on weather. Move to a protected location to finish drying.
STORAGE: When dry, clip off tops and roots and store in onion bags or shallow boxes at near freezing and 65–70% humidity.
DAY LENGTH: Onion bulbing is triggered by day length, and maximum day length during the growing season increases from south to north. Short-day onions are grown at lower latitudes in the South, while intermediate and long-day onions are grown at higher latitudes. Refer to "Adaptation" in each variety description for details.
DAYS TO MATURITY: From direct seeding; subtract 10–15 days for days to maturity from transplant.
AVG. DIRECT SEEDING RATE: 1 oz./25′, 1M/50′, 5M/250′, 25M/1,250′, 580M/acre at 20 seeds/ft., in rows 18" apart.
TRANSPLANTS: Avg. 1 oz./4,900 plants, 1 lb./78,750.
SIZED SEEDS: Standard on all varieties.
SEED SPECS: SEEDS/LB.: 96,900–127,700 (avg. 112,000).
PACKET: 250 seeds, sows 12′ or makes 140 plants.