Red Wing Storage Onion
Allium cepa 'Red Wing'
A premium red storage onion that combines excellent keeping quality with bold flavor and stunning deep red color. These perfectly round bulbs store for 8-10 months when properly cured, making them ideal for gardeners who want homegrown onions year-round. The firm texture and sharp flavor make them perfect for cooking.
Harvest
110-120d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
5–10
USDA hardiness
Height
12-18 inches
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Red Wing Storage Onion in USDA Zone 7
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Red Wing Storage Onion · Zones 5–10
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | — | — | May – June | August – October |
| Zone 4 | — | — | April – June | August – October |
| Zone 5 | — | — | April – May | August – November |
| Zone 6 | — | — | April – May | July – November |
| Zone 7 | — | — | March – May | July – November |
| Zone 8 | — | — | March – April | June – December |
| Zone 9 | — | — | February – March | May – December |
| Zone 10 | — | — | January – March | May – December |
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
Flowers wither and convert to bulblets
Type: Capsule.
Harvest time: Summer
Bloom time: Summer
Storage & Preservation
Cure your Red Wing onions in a warm, dry, well-ventilated area (80-85°F) for 2-3 weeks until necks are completely dry and papery. Once cured, trim tops to 1 inch and roots to ½ inch. Store in mesh bags or crates in a cool (32-40°F), dry location with good air circulation. Properly cured Red Wing onions will keep 8-10 months under ideal conditions.
For preservation, these onions excel when caramelized and frozen in portions, maintaining their rich flavor for up to 8 months. They're also excellent for pickling—their firm texture holds up well to the brining process. Dehydrating sliced Red Wings creates intensely flavored onion flakes perfect for seasoning blends.
History & Origin
Red Wing Storage Onion represents modern hybrid breeding focused on extending storage life while maintaining superior flavor. Developed in the late 20th century through selective breeding programs, this variety combines the storage genetics of traditional yellow storage onions with the anthocyanin compounds that create the deep red coloration.
The breeding focus was specifically on addressing the historical weakness of red onions—their typically shorter storage life compared to yellow varieties. Traditional red onions often stored only 2-4 months, but plant breeders worked to incorporate the thick, papery scale genetics from long-storing yellow varieties while maintaining the sulfur compounds that give red onions their distinctive sharp flavor. This variety emerged from commercial breeding programs aimed at providing home gardeners and small farms with a red onion that could compete with yellow storage varieties for longevity while offering the visual appeal and unique flavor profile that red onions provide in cooking.
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Black Walnut, Deer, Rabbits
Considerations
- -Toxic: Low severity
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Carrots
Onions repel carrot flies while carrots help break up soil for onion bulb development
Tomatoes
Onions deter aphids, whiteflies, and hornworms that commonly attack tomatoes
Brassicas (Cabbage, Broccoli)
Onions repel cabbage worms, flea beetles, and other brassica pests
Lettuce
Onions provide pest protection while lettuce's shallow roots don't compete with onion bulbs
Peppers
Onions help repel aphids and other soft-bodied insects that damage pepper plants
Strawberries
Onions deter slugs, aphids, and other pests while improving strawberry flavor
Spinach
Compatible root systems and onions provide natural pest deterrent for leafy greens
Marigolds
Both plants repel similar pests and marigolds add beneficial pollinator attraction
Keep Apart
Beans
Onions can inhibit bean growth and nitrogen fixation by legume bacteria
Peas
Onions stunt pea growth and interfere with their nitrogen-fixing root nodules
Asparagus
Onions can slow asparagus growth and reduce spear production
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #170000)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good resistance to pink root and fusarium basal rot
Common Pests
Onion thrips, onion maggots, wireworms
Diseases
Pink root, neck rot, downy mildew, bacterial soft rot