Onion : Wethersfield Red

Legendary in Connecticut's "most ancient town", pleasant flavored

This onion is legendary in Conneticut’s “most ancient town” and traces its development to the 1700’s. Today it is celebrated as an icon and logo of Wethersfield. We may have been the first company to sell seeds for it commercially, but before we offered it, this onion was already popular from New York to Bermuda and brought much wealth to the onion growers of the town. Our 1856 catalog states, “It is the kind mostly grown at Wethersfield. It grows to large size, deep red, thick, approaching to round shape, fine-grained, pleasant flavored, and very productive. It ripens in September, and keeps well.” It is a slightly flattened onion of renowned quality and is sure to become a tradition in your garden this year.

Amaryllidaceae Allium cepa

This is an example of the timeline you would see based on your growing conditions.

Onion: Sweet, Red

Wethersfield Red

The sweet onions are low in sulfur and high in water, which gives them such a mild flavor they can be eaten raw. They also have thin skins and so don't store very well.

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Basics

Ease of Growing: Moderate
Grown as: Biennial
Days to Maturity: 100-110 (Spring/Summer), 210-240 (Fall/Winter)
Growing Habit: -
Hardiness: Hardy

Onions are very hardy and can be frost tolerant.
Crops: Spring Transplant, Spring, Fall Transplant, Fall
Growing Season: Long
Cultivar Type: -
Growing Conditions: Cold, Cool, Warm, Long days

Correct timing is important with bulb onions, if you don't plant them at the right time they won't do very well. The best onions are grown from transplants set out in October or November and wintered over to mature in June and July. Plant transplants right away, if possible. Transplants are happy if you apply a light mulch to help conserve moisture for uniform growth.
Outdoor Growing Temp: 55°F - 80°F
Min Outdoor Soil Temp: 50°F

Onion seed takes a month to germinate at 40 degrees, but only 2 weeks at 50 degrees, so you don't necessarily lose much time by waiting until the soil has warmed up a little.
Start Indoors: Yes
Start Outdoors: Yes
Light: Sun: min. 6 hours daily (Cold, Cool, Warm)

Full sun.
Water: Moderate

Onions are quite drought tolerant, but a lack of water makes the bulb smaller and more pungent. For best flavor and largest bulbs you must keep the soil moist at all times, so there is no interruption in growth.
Feeder: Light

Low nitrogen. Moderate potassium. Moderate phosphorous.

Onions don't need a lot of nitrogen, but they do like potassium and phosphorus.
Suitability: Drought tolerant, Tolerates light frost
Small Gardens?: Yes
Containers?: Yes

Onions can be grown easily in containers. Make sure they have good drainage and the pot is at least 12" deep. Fill with a mixture of potting soil and compost, and water thoroughly. Make sure that your onions have access to plenty of sunshine. Keep the soil moist.
Attracts beneficial insects?: No
Color: Deep red
Fruit Size: - "
Plant Height: 24.0 - 36.0"
Plant Diameter: 2.0 - 4.0"
Hardiness Zone: 3-11
Disease Resistance
Taste Profile: Sweet tender flavor.
Rotation Group: Roots: Alliums + Umbeliferae

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Plant Guide

Onion : Wethersfield Red

Legendary in Connecticut's "most ancient town", pleasant flavored

Wethersfield Red

Basics