rossa lunga di tropea red summer onion

The famous Italian heirloom torpedo onion whose name means ‘Long Red of Tropea.’ In Calabria near the southern tip of Italy, Tropea is the site of a famous onion festival every August. Elongated like torpedos, these thin-skinned glossy maroon bulbs with lighter interiors are easily sliced into even rings. Sweet, mild and delicious for fall enjoyment. Plants died back in the first week of October for Donna Dyrek, will finish earlier if started indoors March 1. Excellent bunched fresh for farmers market in midsummer. Chefs love them for grilling or braising. Last year’s seed produced an unsatisfactory shape, but our new lot is back to usual torpedo form. Intermediate to long day for middle latitudes: 35–48°.