Seed Savers Exchange
Onion, Red Wethersfield
Allium cepa
- Long-day onion
- Flattened globe-shaped bulbs
- Purple-red skin
- Concentric circles of red
- 100 days from transplant
- Packet of 100 Seeds
(aka Dark Red Beauty) Listed as Large Red in 1834 by Hovey & Co. of Boston. By 1850, the name Wethersfield was in use by such companies as Comstock, Ferre & Co of Wethersfield, Connecticut. Large flattened globes with purple-red skin. Mildly pungent flesh with red concentric circles. Best used for salads and garnishes, not for extended storage. Long-day type. 100 days from transplant.
Learn To Grow It
This crop requires a long growing season and should be started from seed in mid to late winter. You can transplant them outdoors 1-2 weeks after all danger of frost has passed.
Plant your seeds 1/4-3/4 in. deep in soil trays or pots indoors. Fertilize your seedlings when they are 2-3 inches high. When planting outdoors, place the seedlings 3-8 inches apart.
Make sure that your soil is well fertilized as this crop is a heavy feeder and takes a lot of nutrients from the soil. Consider adding compost to the soil the year before you plant.
Mulching the soil around this crop can help protect the plant and keep roots cool and moist. This crop may require regular applications of fertilizer and water.
