Tropeana Lunga

Family: Amaryllidaceae Vegetable

Sweetly aromatic and richly red from shoulder to stem, Tropeana Lunga forms long, elegant red onions with a gentle bite that softens into mellow sweetness.

The flesh is crisp and juicy with fine, tight rings, making each bulb feel substantial yet refined in the hand. Grow Tropeana Lunga for standout red color and dependable 90-day maturity—ideal for bold, colorful onion-forward dishes, from roasting to fresh slicing and vibrant pickling.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of Tropeana Lunga

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jul 24th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	90
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	60
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Tropeana Lunga’s mild, sweet-softening bite and tight-ring crunch make it a red-onion that still behaves raw—less watery, more substantial. Roast or pickle it and it keeps its color and shape, giving you onion sweetness without turning to mush.

Best Uses

roasting halves until jammy at the edges while staying structured
thick raw slices for salads where the crunch won’t collapse into watery strands
quick pickling for vivid red color and snappy tang
caramelizing for glossy, controlled sweetness rather than deep-bitter onion funk

Flavor Profile

gentle bite that turns sweet and mellow crisp, juicy crunch with tight rings sweet onion aroma with a clean, lightly earthy finish

Kitchen Pairings

balsamic vinegar goat cheese honey whole-grain mustard thyme beef or lamb

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I manage onion (Allium cepa) problems with thrips or onion maggots?

Look for silvery streaks and distorted new growth (thrips) and for wilting with maggots at the base or hollowing bulbs (onion maggots). Control thrips by removing affected leaves and spraying insecticidal soap early in the morning, repeating as needed. For onion maggots, cover seedbeds with fine mesh/row cover immediately after planting, avoid planting in the same spot year after year, and remove any infested plants promptly to reduce spread.

What soil moisture schedule should I follow for onion (Allium cepa) during the main growing phase?

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged from establishment through bulb formation (roughly weeks 4–10 after planting). Water deeply about 1–2 times per week, increasing frequency during hot, windy weather, so the top 1–2 inches dry slightly between waterings. Once bulbs begin to size up, reduce watering a bit to prevent rot, but don’t let plants fully dry out or bulb growth will stall.

How can I tell when onion (Allium cepa) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when about half of the tops have fallen over and the remaining leaves are starting to dry and yellow, typically near the ~90-day mark. Stop watering a week before harvest so necks dry down and bulbs cure better. Lift gently (don’t pull hard), then cure the bulbs in a warm, airy spot until necks feel tight and papery skins are set.