Description

Borettana Cipollini Onion is a traditional Italian heirloom prized for its distinctive flattened shape, golden-yellow skin, and exceptionally sweet, mild flavor. These small to medium-sized onions are famous for their rich caramelization, becoming tender and deeply flavorful when roasted, grilled, or sautéed. A staple in Italian cuisine, they are perfect for whole roasting, pickling, or adding a touch of sweetness to savory dishes.

Borettana Cipollini onions develop a delicate, sugary flavor that intensifies beautifully when cooked, producing a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Their naturally high sugar content makes them ideal for caramelizing, where they turn golden and richly aromatic. While excellent cooked, they can also be enjoyed fresh when harvested young for a milder taste.

Reliable and adaptable, these onions form uniform bulbs and perform well in a variety of garden conditions. Their relatively compact size allows for closer spacing, making them suitable for smaller gardens and intensive planting. If you’re looking for a gourmet onion with exceptional sweetness and classic culinary appeal, Borettana Cipollini is a standout choice.

• Type: Open-pollinated biennial (grown as annual bulb onion)
• Start seeds: Indoors 8–10 weeks before last frost or direct sow early spring
• Sun: Full sun
• Spacing: 3–4 inches
• Height: 12–18 inches (upright leafy tops)
• Days to harvest: 90–110 days

Onions thrive in cool to mild weather and fertile, well-drained soil with consistent moisture throughout the growing season. Transplant seedlings or thin direct-sown plants to proper spacing to allow bulbs to develop fully. Keep soil evenly moist, especially during bulb formation, and ensure good weed control to reduce competition. Harvest when tops begin to yellow and fall over naturally. Cure bulbs in a warm, dry, well-ventilated area for 1–2 weeks before storing to improve shelf life and flavor.

Additional information