HeirloomContainer OK

Purplette

Allium cepa

These flavorful specialty onions mature early and hold well. Purplette is a glossy rich burgundy, transforming to a nice pastel pink when cooked or pickled. Can be harvested at golf ball size or very young as baby bunching onions with purple pearl ends. Best at 40° latitude and higher.

Harvest

60d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun

☀️

Zones

5–10

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

12-18 inches

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct Sow

Harvest

Direct Sow

Harvest

Showing dates for Purplette in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 allium →

Zone Map

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Purplette · Zones 5–10

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing1-2 inches

SoilWell-drained, fertile soil with good organic matter

pH6.0-7.0

Water1 inch per week, consistent light moisture

SeasonCool season

FlavorSweet, mild, and crisp with minimal bite

ColorDeep purple-red skin with white flesh tinged purple

Size1-1.5 inches diameter, pearl onion size

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 1	—	—	June – July	August – September
Zone 2	—	—	May – July	July – September
Zone 11	—	—	January – February	February – December
Zone 12	—	—	January – February	February – December
Zone 13	—	—	January – February	February – December
Zone 3	—	—	May – June	July – October
Zone 4	—	—	April – June	June – October
Zone 5	—	—	April – May	June – November
Zone 6	—	—	April – May	June – November
Zone 7	—	—	March – May	May – November
Zone 8	—	—	March – April	May – December
Zone 9	—	—	February – March	April – December
Zone 10	—	—	January – March	March – December

Succession Planting

Purplette is a pull-once crop — it doesn't keep producing after harvest — so if you want a steady supply, you need to stagger your sowings. Direct sow every 14–21 days from March 1 through early May. Stop once daytime highs are reliably above 80°F; heat pushes onions to bolt and the bulbs turn pithy before they're worth pulling.

If your fall stays mild, a late-summer sowing around August 15–September 1 will give you an October–November harvest. The bulbs run smaller in fall, but cooler temps actually deepen the purple pigmentation that makes this variety worth the bother in the first place.

Complete Growing Guide

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: Less than 12 inches, 12 inches-3 feet. Maintenance: Medium. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Purplette reaches harvest at 60 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds.

Flowers wither and convert to bulblets

Type: Capsule.

Harvest time: Summer

Edibility: The bulb and tops are edible raw or cooked. However, the plant also has poisonous characteristics as noted in the "Poisonous to Humans" section of this record. Toxicity can depend on the age of the person or animal, the age of the plant, the part of the plant ingested, how much is ingested, whether the person or animal has sensitivities or allergies, whether it's eaten raw or cooked, and so forth. Consult with a medical professional for further details.

Storage & Preservation

Fresh Purplette onions store best unwashed in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area at 32-40°F with 65-70% humidity. Properly cured bulbs keep 2-4 months in ideal conditions, though their thin skin makes them less suitable for long-term storage than traditional onions.

For peak flavor, use within 6-8 weeks of harvest. Store in mesh bags or on slatted trays, never in plastic. Keep away from potatoes, which release gases that cause onions to sprout.

Pickling is Purplette's crown jewel—their size and mild flavor make perfect cocktail garnishes. Quick-pickle whole bulbs in vinegar brine, or ferment them for complex flavor development. They also freeze well when diced after blanching for 2-3 minutes, maintaining texture better than most onion varieties. Dehydrate thin slices at 135°F for concentrated flavor chips.

History & Origin

Purplette is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Central Asia and central Persia

Advantages

+Early maturity at 60 days makes Purplette ideal for quick harvests
+Sweet and mild flavor with minimal bite appeals to most palates
+Dual-harvest capability allows golf ball onions or baby bunching onion production
+Striking burgundy color transforms to pastel pink when cooked or pickled
+Excellent storage potential means extended shelf life after harvest

Considerations

-Purple blotch and downy mildew diseases require vigilant monitoring and management
-Performs best only at 40° latitude and higher limits regional growing
-Susceptible to onion thrips, aphids, and cutworms requiring pest control measures

Companion Plants

Carrots and Purplette sit well together because their root depths don't compete much, and the sulfur compounds alliums release help suppress carrot fly (Psila rosae) — a real mechanism, not garden mythology. Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) earn a spot nearby for a different reason: their root secretions discourage soil nematodes that would otherwise work through allium bulbs. Lettuce fills the gaps between rows without a fight — shallow roots, fast turnover, out of the ground before the onions need the space.

Beans and peas are the ones to plant on the far side of the garden. Alliums inhibit the Rhizobium bacteria that legumes need to fix nitrogen, which means your bean yield drops and the relationship sours both ways. Asparagus has a similar problem in reverse — it releases compounds that stunt onion growth. Keep those beds at least 3–4 feet apart, or better, separated by an entirely different crop.

Plant Together

Roses

Alliums repel aphids, thrips, and other pests that commonly attack roses

Tomatoes

Alliums deter hornworms and aphids while potentially improving tomato flavor

Carrots

Alliums repel carrot flies and root maggots that damage carrot crops

Cabbage

Strong allium scent deters cabbage worms, aphids, and flea beetles

Lettuce

Alliums provide pest protection without competing for nutrients in shallow soil

Peppers

Allium compounds repel aphids and may reduce fungal diseases around peppers

Strawberries

Alliums deter slugs, aphids, and nematodes that commonly damage strawberry plants

Marigolds

Both plants repel similar pests, creating a strong protective barrier in garden beds

Keep Apart

Beans

Alliums can inhibit nitrogen fixation by beneficial bacteria in bean root nodules

Peas

Allium compounds may interfere with the symbiotic relationship between peas and nitrogen-fixing bacteria

Asparagus

Alliums can stunt asparagus growth and reduce spear production through root competition

Nutrition Facts

Calories

40kcal(2%)

Protein

1.1g(2%)

Fiber

1.7g(6%)

Carbs

9.34g(3%)

Fat

0.1g(0%)

Vitamin C

7.4mg(8%)

Vitamin A

0mcg(0%)

Vitamin K

0.4mcg(0%)

Iron

0.21mg(1%)

Calcium

23mg(2%)

Potassium

146mg(3%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #170000)

Pests & Disease Resistance

Resistance

Good general disease resistance

Common Pests

Onion thrips, aphids, cutworms

Diseases

Purple blotch, downy mildew, neck rot

Troubleshooting Purplette

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Silvery streaking or stippling on leaves, tips dying back, plants look stunted around day 30–45

Likely Causes

Onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) — tiny, nearly invisible insects that rasp the leaf surface and suck out cell contents
Dry conditions, which favor thrips population explosions

What to Do

1.Spray leaves with insecticidal soap, getting into the leaf folds where thrips hide — repeat every 5–7 days for 3 weeks
2.Keep soil consistently moist at 1 inch per week; stressed plants are more susceptible
3.Remove and trash heavily infested outer leaves to knock the population down fast

Pale green to yellow patches on upper leaf surfaces with a purplish-gray fuzzy growth on the undersides, usually in cool wet weather

Likely Causes

Downy mildew (Peronospora destructor) — airborne spores that thrive when temps sit between 40–60°F and humidity is high
Dense planting at less than 1 inch spacing that traps moisture between leaves

What to Do

1.Thin plants to at least 1–2 inches apart to open up airflow
2.Avoid overhead watering in the evening; switch to morning irrigation so leaves dry before nightfall
3.Pull and trash affected plants — don't compost them — and rotate alliums out of that bed for at least 2 seasons

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Purplette onion take to grow?▼

Purplette onions mature in 60-70 days from seed to harvest. You can begin harvesting at the scallion stage around 45 days, or wait for full golf ball-sized bulbs. This quick maturity allows for succession planting every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest throughout the growing season.

Can you grow Purplette onions in containers?▼

Yes, Purplette onions are excellent for container growing due to their compact size. Use containers at least 8 inches deep with drainage holes. Plant in quality potting mix and space plants 2-3 inches apart. A 12-inch pot can hold 12-15 plants. Water consistently but ensure good drainage to prevent bulb rot.

Is Purplette onion good for beginners?▼

Purplette is excellent for beginning gardeners. It's rated as easy to grow, has good disease resistance, and matures quickly so you see results fast. The forgiving nature means minor care mistakes won't ruin your crop, and you can harvest at multiple stages if you miss the optimal timing.

What does Purplette onion taste like?▼

Purplette has a sweet, mild flavor with minimal bite or sharpness. The taste is crisp and clean, making it perfect for eating raw in salads or as garnishes. When cooked, it becomes even sweeter and develops a tender texture without becoming mushy, which is why it's prized for roasting whole.

When should I plant Purplette onion seeds?▼

Direct sow Purplette seeds in early spring when soil temperature reaches 50°F consistently, typically mid to late April in zones 3-6. For earlier harvest, start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost date. In warmer zones (7-9), plant in fall for spring harvest or early spring for early summer harvest.

Can I save seeds from Purplette onions?▼

No, Purplette is a hybrid variety, so saved seeds won't produce true-to-type plants. The offspring will revert to parent characteristics and won't have the same size, color, or flavor profile. You'll need to purchase fresh seeds each year to maintain the variety's desirable traits.