Onion | Red of Florence Round

Grow striking, round, and mild red bulbs of Red of Florence Round onion in your home garden. This classic Italian heirloom variety is a distinctive favorite among gardeners, prized for its gorgeous deep crimson skin, beautiful uniform globe shape, and deliciously mild, sweet red flesh that is wonderful in fresh salads, slicing, roasting, and Mediterranean dishes.

These reliable plants produce heavy yields of uniform, beautiful bulbs throughout the growing season, making them a productive and rewarding addition to any vegetable patch. Start seeds indoors in early spring for Canada's cool northern climate, as onions thrive with a long growing season to achieve their full, prize-winning potential.

Why Grow Red of Florence Round Onions?

• Stunning, uniform round globe-shaped bulbs with deep crimson-red skin
• Exceptional sweet and mild flavor that is wonderful for fresh slicing
• Abundant and reliable heavy yields
• Classic Italian heirloom variety with striking visual appeal
• Approximately 100–110 days to maturity from transplanting
• Grows best in full sun
• Approximately 100 seeds per packet

How to Grow Red of Florence Round Onions from Seed

Start onion seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before your last spring frost date. Sow seeds in flats or trays filled with a sterile, well-draining seed-starting mix, covering them lightly with about 6 mm (1/4 inch) of soil.

Keep the soil moist and provide plenty of light (or place under grow lights) until seedlings reach 10–15 cm (4–6 inches) tall. Trim the green tops back slightly if they become floppy to encourage strong, stocky stems.

Harden off seedlings gradually over 7–10 days before transplanting outdoors in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked. Space plants approximately 10–15 cm (4–6 inches) apart in rows, ensuring the bulb base is planted just at the soil surface.

Water consistently and evenly throughout the growing season. As bulbs approach maturity in late summer, reduce watering to encourage proper curing and skin tightening.

Growing Onions in Canada

Red of Florence Round onions are well-suited to Canadian climates when given an early indoor head start. Starting early ensures the plants have enough long daylight hours and warm summer growing weeks to size up into magnificent round bulbs before autumn.

Keep the planting bed thoroughly weeded, as onions have shallow root systems and do not compete well with weeds for moisture and nutrients.

For detailed instructions covering seed starting, spacing, watering, fertilizing, harvesting, and pest management, read our Complete Guide to Growing Vegetables in Canada.

Red of Florence Round Onion Growing Information

Feature	Detail
Botanical Name	Allium cepa
Common Name	Red Onion (Red of Florence Round)
Plant Type	Biennial grown as an annual bulb crop
Sun Requirements	Full sun
Days to Maturity	Approximately 100–110 days
Seed Count	Approximately 100 seeds
Pollination Type	Open-pollinated heirloom variety
Best Uses	Fresh slicing, salads, roasting, and Mediterranean cooking

Grow Your Own Red of Florence Round Onions

There is nothing quite like harvesting striking, sweet round red onions straight from your own garden bed. With their legendary mild flavor and beautiful globe shape, Red of Florence Round onions are a rewarding and essential addition to your Canadian vegetable patch.

Start your onions from seed indoors this season and enjoy watching them develop into a bountiful harvest of delicious bulbs.