Ringmaster

Family: Amaryllidaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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

Sweetly aromatic and beautifully mild, Ringmaster white onions develop into perfectly rounded bulbs with a clean, satin-smooth skin and a crisp, juicy bite.

Their flavor stays bright rather than sharp, making them especially inviting for fresh use, roasting, and caramelizing into golden sweetness. Grow Ringmaster for dependable, uniform harvests—bulbs that store with confidence and shine in everything from skillet favorites to tangy pickles.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 85 DaysHabit: Bulbing

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Ringmaster 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 25th	Aug 18th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Aug 8th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Aug 8th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Aug 12th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Aug 8th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Aug 6th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Aug 1st – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jul 28th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jul 25th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jul 19th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jul 14th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jul 4th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	Jun 25th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	Jun 16th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	May 30th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	May 5th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 25th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	85
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)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Ringmaster’s mild, bright aromatics and juicy crunch make it a rare white onion that stays pleasant in raw applications—no harsh bite, just clean sweetness. It caramelizes into glossy, gentle gold rather than going steely, so it’s built for both skillet comfort and tangy pickles.

Best Uses

thin slicing for raw salads where you want clarity instead of sharpness
roasting until deeply golden and jammy at the edges
caramelizing for honeyed sweetness without turning acrid
pickling into crisp, tangy rounds

Flavor Profile

sweetly aromatic mild, bright onion bite crisp, juicy snap clean, satin-smooth skin

Kitchen Pairings

balsamic vinegar thyme butter Gruyère chicken stock apple cider

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most common on Allium cepa (onion) and how can I treat it?

Onions are commonly hit by purple blotch (Alternaria porri) which shows as elongated purple-brown spots on leaves and can spread quickly in wet weather. Remove and discard infected leaves, improve airflow, and avoid overhead watering; you can also apply a labeled fungicide for onions if conditions are staying humid and the disease is spreading. Keep beds weed-free so foliage dries faster between rain or irrigation events.

How often should I water Allium cepa during the main bulbing phase, and what soil moisture target should I aim for?

During bulbing (typically mid-season through about the last few weeks before harvest), keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged—aim for about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week, split into 2–3 irrigations if it’s hot. If the soil stays soggy or you see leaf-yellowing with slow growth, reduce watering; if the leaves droop or grow stops, increase frequency to maintain consistent moisture. A simple check: the top 1 inch of soil should feel dry before you water again, while deeper soil remains lightly moist.

How do I tell when my Allium cepa is ready to harvest?

Harvest when most of the tops (usually about 50–70%) have fallen over and the necks start to soften, while bulbs have filled out and show papery skin. Stop watering around 1–2 weeks before harvest to help skins dry and cure properly. Lift carefully so you don’t cut the bulbs, and cure them in a warm, airy spot until the outer skins are crisp.