Red Creole

Family: Amaryllidaceae Bulb Onion

Planting Schedule

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Sweetly aromatic and richly colored, Red Creole forms medium-large bulbs with a burnished red skin that deepens to a jewel tone as it matures.

The flesh is crisp and juicy, balancing gentle sweetness with a lively allium bite—ideal for fresh use and for roasting until mellow and fragrant. Grow this intermediate-day onion for dependable harvests around 105 days, with bulbs that store with confidence and add striking color to every garden basket.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 105 DaysHabit: Bulbing

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Red Creole 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	Apr 3rd	May 8th	Aug 21st – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 7th	May 12th	Aug 25th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 3rd	May 8th	Aug 21st – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 1st	May 6th	Aug 19th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 27th	May 1st	Aug 14th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 23rd	Apr 27th	Aug 10th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 20th	Apr 24th	Aug 7th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 14th	Apr 18th	Aug 1st – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 9th	Apr 13th	Jul 27th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 27th	Apr 3rd	Jul 17th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 18th	Mar 25th	Jul 8th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 9th	Mar 16th	Jun 29th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 23rd	Feb 27th	Jun 12th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 29th	Feb 2nd	May 18th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 14th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 14th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 14th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 14th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 14th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 14th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Jan 14th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Jan 14th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	105
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)	5

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Red Creole’s balance of gentle sweetness and a clean allium bite makes it a standout for fresh use—raw slices stay crisp instead of turning watery. Roast it hard and low just until jammy at the edges; the jewel-toned flesh goes syrupy without getting ashy or bitter.

Best Uses

raw slicing for burgers and sandwiches—thin enough to stay snappy, not harsh
hot sear or quick-char in fajitas where the sweetness blooms fast
roasting whole or in wedges until edges go bronzed and tender
caramelized base for soups and stews—deep color without turning bitter

Flavor Profile

sweetly aromatic oniony bite crisp, juicy crunch mellow, jammy sweetness when roasted lingering allium snap

Kitchen Pairings

lime black pepper butter aged cheddar white vinegar beef

Frequently Asked Questions

What onion (Allium cepa) pest or disease should I watch for, and what should I do first?

Watch for onion maggots and downy mildew (a common Allium problem). For onion maggots, use floating row cover over seedlings and remove any infested plants promptly; for downy mildew, keep foliage dry with morning watering and improve airflow by spacing plants correctly, then remove affected leaves to slow spread. Avoid working in the bed when plants are wet to reduce disease transfer.

How often should I water Allium cepa during the main growing phase to keep bulbs developing well?

During active leaf growth and bulb swelling (roughly mid-season), water deeply about 1 inch per week, adjusting for heat—keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Let the top 1–2 inches of soil dry slightly between waterings to prevent bulb rot and disease buildup. Inconsistent watering can cause stunted or split bulbs at harvest.

How can I tell when Allium cepa ‘Red Creole’ is ready to harvest at home?

Harvest when about 1/2 to 2/3 of the plants have fallen over and the necks begin to soften, typically around 105 days from planting. Gently lift one bulb to confirm the bulb size and check that the outer skins are papery and colored. Stop watering as harvest approaches and cure bulbs in a warm, airy place out of direct sun for 1–2 weeks.