Red Onions

Red Onion Sets
Canadian-grown red onion sets bring a mild, sweet flavour and vibrant color to your garden and kitchen. These fast-growing, cold-tolerant onions are excellent for raw applications, such as salads, salsas, and pickling, while also shining when roasted or grilled. Simple to grow and beautifully coloured, red onions add both flavour and appeal to any meal.

Red onion sets are sold in 225g bags

Number of sets per bag:  80-100 bulbs

$5.99

Maturity and Harvest Times

  • Growing Time: Red onions from sets mature relatively quickly, with full-sized bulbs ready for harvest in 90-100 days, depending on growing conditions.
  • Signs of Readiness: When the tops begin to turn yellow and flop over, the onions are reaching maturity. Once most tops have fallen, gently lift the bulbs from the ground with a garden fork to avoid bruising.
  • Curing: For proper storage, cure the onions by laying them out in a dry, warm, and ventilated area (such as a shaded porch or garage) for 1-2 weeks. The outer skins will harden, and the necks will dry, preparing them for longer storage.

Cooking Applications

Red onions bring a mild, sweet flavour to dishes and are particularly prized for their raw applications and colourful presentation.

  • Salads & Sandwiches: Red onions are excellent raw, adding a mild, sweet crunch and beautiful colour to salads, sandwiches, and wraps.
  • Grilling & Roasting: Grilling or roasting red onions enhances their sweetness, making them a great side dish or topping for burgers, pizzas, and more.
  • Pickling: Red onions are perfect for quick pickling, which mellows their flavour and makes them a delicious topping for tacos, burgers, or salads.
  • Sautéing: Although red onions are milder than yellow, they work well sautéed, especially in dishes that benefit from a slightly less intense onion flavour, like pasta sauces or Mediterranean recipes.

Ideal Storage Conditions

Red onions can last for several months if properly stored, though they generally have a slightly shorter storage life than yellow onions due to their higher moisture content. Here’s how to keep them fresh:

  • Temperature & Humidity: Store red onions in a cool, dry, and dark place with temperatures between 1-4°C (34-40°F), such as a cellar or basement. Avoid plastic bags, which trap moisture and can lead to rot.
  • Air Circulation: Good airflow is essential for red onions. Use mesh bags, paper bags, or baskets to allow ventilation and prevent moisture buildup.
  • Separate from Potatoes: Keep red onions away from potatoes, as potatoes emit ethylene gas that can accelerate onion sprouting and spoilage.
Proudly Canadian