Cabernet

Family: Amaryllidaceae Bulb Onion

Planting Schedule

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Aromatically pungent at first touch, Cabernet onions mature into handsome bulbs with a deep, wine-toned skin that glows under garden light.

The flesh is crisp and finely layered, offering a balanced bite that turns sweet and mellow when coaxed into its best form—ideal for roasting, sautéing, and slow-simmered sauces, as well as for fresh slicing when you want a lively allium snap. Grow Cabernet for its dependable intermediate-day timing and its striking, richly colored bulbs that store with confidence for weeks of flavorful use.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 110 DaysHabit: Bulbing

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Cabernet 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	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 3a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 3b	Mar 10th	May 12th	Aug 30th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 6th	May 8th	Aug 26th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 4th	May 6th	Aug 24th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Feb 27th	May 1st	Aug 19th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Feb 23rd	Apr 27th	Aug 15th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Feb 20th	Apr 24th	Aug 12th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Feb 14th	Apr 18th	Aug 6th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Feb 9th	Apr 13th	Aug 1st – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Jan 30th	Apr 3rd	Jul 22nd – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Jan 21st	Mar 25th	Jul 13th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Jan 12th	Mar 16th	Jul 4th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Dec 26th	Feb 27th	Jun 17th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 1st	Feb 2nd	May 23rd – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 19th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 19th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 19th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 19th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 19th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 19th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 19th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 19th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	110
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Bulbing
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	7

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Cabernet onions hit with a clean, pungent snap, then—given heat and time—turn sweet with a wine-toned aroma that really perfumes the pan. They’re built for melt-in sauces and caramelized roasting where their layers go tender without losing structure.

Best Uses

roasting wedges until caramelized and tender at the core
sautéing low-and-slow for glossy, jammy sweetness
slow-simmered sauces where onions melt into body and flavor
thin slicing raw for a crisp snap in salads and sarnies (best after a quick salt/rest or light acid)

Flavor Profile

sharp allium bite on first cut crisp, finely layered crunch sweet, mellow finish when cooked deep, wine-tinged aroma from the skin

Kitchen Pairings

balsamic vinegar thyme butter or olive oil gruyère beef or lamb red wine

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Allium cepa (onions) like Cabernet, and what can I do?

Onions (Allium cepa) are commonly affected by purple blotch (Alternaria porri), which shows as purple-gray spots on leaves and can spread in humid weather. Start with clean, well-spaced plants and water at the soil line to keep foliage dry; remove badly spotted leaves early. If it becomes severe, apply a labeled fungicide that targets Alternaria/leaf blight and repeat according to the label during active disease pressure.

How often should I water Cabernet onions during the main growing phase, and how moist should the soil stay?

During bulb formation (the bulk of the ~110 days), keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy—aim for about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week, split into 1–2 waterings depending on heat and rainfall. Let the top 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of soil dry slightly between waterings to avoid bulb rot. Mulch lightly to stabilize moisture, and stop watering as bulbs mature to improve keeping quality.

How do I tell when Cabernet onions are ready to harvest?

Harvest when about 50–75% of plants have naturally fallen over and the necks are starting to dry down, not when you “just feel” the bulb size. Lift bulbs carefully to avoid bruising, then cure them in a warm, airy spot out of direct sun until the outer skins are dry and papery (usually 1–2 weeks). If the neck is still soft or the skin won’t crack dry, give them more curing time before storage.