Borettana

Family: Amaryllidaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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Sweetly aromatic and beautifully mild, Borettana cipollini onions bring a tender, honeyed flavor with a delicate crunch that softens into silky sweetness when gently heated.

Their petite, flattened globes are wrapped in burnished, papery skins—golden to russet—then reveal pale, juicy layers with a fine, satiny bite. Grow Borettana for standout whole-bulb roasting, elegant fresh slicing, and showy pickling that preserves their naturally balanced sweetness.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Bulbing

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Borettana Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 18th	Aug 16th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 8th	Aug 6th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Aug 6th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 12th	Aug 10th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Aug 6th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 6th	Aug 4th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jul 30th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	Apr 27th	Jul 26th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	Apr 24th	Jul 23rd – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 18th	Jul 17th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 13th	Jul 12th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 3rd	Jul 2nd – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Mar 25th	Jun 23rd – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 16th	Jun 14th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Feb 27th	May 28th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 2nd	May 3rd – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 30th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	90
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Bulbing
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	7

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Borettana cipollini onions are built for finesse: their mild, honeyed sweetness holds its character whether they’re eaten raw for crunch or melted down to silky layers under gentle heat. They’re especially rewarding when you roast them whole—no harsh bite, just burnished edges and syrupy centers.

Best Uses

whole-bulb roasting until deeply caramel-sweet and jammy
thin slicing for raw applications where they stay crisp
quick pickling for clean, balanced tang without heavy onion heat
sautéing low and slow to a pale, glossy sweetness

Flavor Profile

sweetly aromatic mildness tender crunch that turns silky when heated honeyed, gently pungent allium bite juicy, satiny layers

Kitchen Pairings

balsamic vinegar thyme butter aged cheese olive oil chicken or pork

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common disease problem for Allium cepa (Borettana) and how do I manage it?

Onions (Allium cepa) are especially prone to downy mildew and purple blotch, which show up as gray/purple lesions on leaves under cool, damp conditions. Improve airflow by spacing plants properly, water at the soil line in the morning, and remove badly affected leaves early. If infections keep spreading, use a labeled fungicide that targets downy mildew/purple blotch for edible onions and follow the label reapplication schedule.

How often should I water Borettana onions during the main growing phase?

During active leaf and bulb growth, keep soil consistently evenly moist but not soggy—aim for about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week, adjusted for heat and rainfall. Check moisture by feel 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) down: water when it’s starting to dry there, then water thoroughly to that depth. Stop regular watering when bulbs begin to swell and the tops start to tip, so the necks dry and bulbs cure well.

How can I tell when Borettana onions are ready to harvest?

Harvest when about 50–75% of the tops have fallen over and the necks are drying, typically around 90 days for Borettana. Bulbs should feel firm and fully formed at the soil surface, with dry papery skins. Lift gently with a fork, then cure in a warm, airy spot out of direct sun until outer skins are papery and necks are tight.