Allium cepa (Spring Onion) Rossa Lunga di Firenze: traditional red spring onion

Allium cepa Rossa Lunga di Firenze is a classic red shallot-like spring onion, prized for its mild, sweet flavor and elegant red stem. This Italian variety is known for its upright, healthy growth and versatility in the kitchen, and is suitable for both fresh consumption and culinary use. Rossa Lunga di Firenze combines traditional character with reliable yields, making it an excellent choice for both home gardeners and professional growers.

Key Features

• Type: red spring onion / shallot-like onion

• Flower/leaf: dark green, upright foliage; red stems

• Height: approx. 30–40 cm

• Harvest time: continuously from early July

• Sowing period: directly outdoors from February to April

• Use: fresh in salads, sauces, vegetables, garnish or later as a regular onion

Rossa Lunga di Firenze develops long, slender red stems with a fine texture and a mildly aromatic flavor. The leaves are dark green, healthy, and vigorous, making them easy to harvest and process. Fully ripe onions have a shorter shelf life, making them ideal for use young as spring onions. This makes the variety ideal for fresh consumption and short-term storage.

Cultivation and growing conditions

This traditional red spring onion is easy to grow and thrives in light, well-drained soil with ample nutrients. Rossa Lunga di Firenze is tolerant of varying weather conditions and produces uniform, upright stems that simplify harvesting and processing.

Planting advice:

• Sowing: directly outside in rows

• Row spacing: 25–30 cm

• Planting distance in the row: 2–3 cm

• Sowing depth: approximately 0.5–1 cm

• Harvest: continuous from early July, depending on weather conditions and growth rate

Thanks to its continuous harvest period, Rossa Lunga di Firenze is ideal for fresh market sales, as well as for home use. Early sowing ensures a longer availability of fresh, young stems, ideal for use in salads or as a garnish.

Culinary applications

Allium cepa Rossa Lunga di Firenze is a versatile red spring onion that adds rich aroma and mild sweetness to a variety of dishes:

• Salads: adds a fresh, colorful touch

• Stir-fries: retains structure and flavour

• Soups and sauces: adds mild onion flavor without being overpowering

• Garnish: Red stems provide a visually appealing presentation

• Late harvest: can be used partly as a regular onion in cooked dishes

Its fine texture and mild flavor make it an excellent choice for both professional and home cooks, and the red color adds aesthetic value to dishes and food presentation.

Benefits of Allium cepa Rossa Lunga di Firenze

1. Mild, sweet taste: ideal for young use in salads and raw applications

2. Red stems: visually attractive and unique in the range

3. Healthy, upright growth: simplifies harvesting and processing

4. Continuously harvestable from early July: flexibility for market or kitchen

5. Versatile: suitable as a spring onion and later as a regular onion

6. Reliable and traditional: classic Italian variety with proven performance

Conclusion

Allium cepa Rossa Lunga di Firenze is a traditional red spring onion that excels in flavor, presentation, and versatility. Thanks to its mild flavor and long, healthy stems, this variety is ideal for fresh consumption, culinary preparations, and decorative uses.

For growers, Rossa Lunga di Firenze offers a reliable harvest of uniform, vigorous stems, while home gardeners enjoy an elegant, tasty, and colorful addition to their vegetable garden. With this red Italian spring onion, you bring quality, aesthetics, and functionality into your home.