Allium cepa
Origin: Milan, Italy
Improvement status: Cultivar
Seeds per packet: ~100
Germination tested 12/2020: 93%
Life cycle: Biennial
A fantastic red storage onion. An Italian heirloom with a top-heavy, top-like shape, 'Rossa di Milano' performs very well when grown from seed. Our growers even noticed a strong resistance to the dreaded purple blotch disease (caused by the Alternaria fungus) compared to other heirlooms and hybrids. Seeds were grown by Clint Freund and Kass McKinnon of Cultivating the Commons in Jefferson, Wisconsin.
GROWING TIPS: Plant in trays in March shooting to drop seeds 1/4 inch apart, topdress with compost bi-weekly or as needed, transplanting out in early May. Plants should be 3-6 inches apart, in rows 12-24 inches apart. Onions can also be planted in bunches, with 2-3 seedlings next to each other every foot or so. Allow onions to dry in field until tops flop over for best storage.
