Red Marble

Family: Amaryllidaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Red Marble to a garden.

Aromas of sweet earth and gentle bite rise from each jewel-like bulb—Red Marble delivers compact, perfectly round cipollini onions with a glossy, garnet-red skin that peels back to reveal crisp, pale rose interiors.

The texture is satisfyingly firm yet tender, with a balanced flavor that sweetens beautifully when roasted and shines in fresh preparations, as well as in sauces and quick pickles. For gardeners who love precision, this 90-day variety rewards careful spacing with uniform “marbles” that look as good as they taste.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Bulbing

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Red Marble 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	Apr 13th	May 11th	Aug 9th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 3rd	May 1st	Jul 30th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 3rd	May 1st	Jul 30th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 7th	May 5th	Aug 3rd – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 3rd	May 1st	Jul 30th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 1st	Apr 29th	Jul 28th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 27th	Apr 24th	Jul 23rd – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 23rd	Apr 20th	Jul 19th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 20th	Apr 17th	Jul 16th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 14th	Apr 11th	Jul 10th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 9th	Apr 6th	Jul 5th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 27th	Mar 27th	Jun 25th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 18th	Mar 18th	Jun 16th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 9th	Mar 9th	Jun 7th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 23rd	Feb 20th	May 21st – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 29th	Jan 26th	Apr 26th – 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)	65
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	7

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

These compact cipollini-style onions behave like a best-of-both worlds onion: firm enough to stay crisp in quick pickles, but they melt into a candied, burnished sweetness when roasted. They’re especially good when you want that gentle bite to turn glossy and syrupy without disappearing entirely.

Best Uses

thin slicing for quick pickles that stay snappy
roasting until bronzed and jammy for a spoonable side
sautéing to glossy sweetness for pan sauces
serving raw in salads where bite can be controlled by salt/marinade

Flavor Profile

gentle, sweet-on-the-front onion bite crisp-tender snap with a juicy interior roast-sweet caramel tendencies a clean, bright aromatic finish

Kitchen Pairings

balsamic vinegar thyme goat cheese butter brown sugar beef or lamb

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease issue commonly affects Allium cepa (red cipollini-type onions), and how can I manage it?

Onions (Allium cepa) commonly suffer from onion thrips, which cause silvery streaks and distorted, dried leaf tips. Spray plants with insecticidal soap and repeat every 5–7 days until new growth is normal, and remove heavily damaged leaves to reduce thrips habitat. Also watch for purple blotch/leaf blight (dark lesions that spread on leaves); keep foliage dry by watering at the soil line and improve airflow between plants.

How often should I water Allium cepa during the main growing phase to form good bulbs?

During bulb formation (roughly mid-season until leaves start yellowing), keep the top 2–3 in (5–8 cm) of soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water about 1–2 times per week with deep soakings, adjusting so you don’t see standing water and the soil still crumbles when squeezed. Once bulbing is underway, avoid letting the soil completely dry out for long stretches, since irregular moisture can lead to smaller bulbs and uneven maturity.

How do I know when Allium cepa (Red Marble-type onions) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when about 50–70% of the tops have fallen over and the remaining leaves are yellowing, typically around 90 days from planting. Gently lift one bulb to check size—bulbs should feel fully formed and the neck should be tight rather than soft. Stop watering a week before harvest so skins cure better, then cure in a dry, airy spot out of direct sun until outer skins are papery.