annual vegetable
Red Burgundy onion
Red Burgundy onion is an annual vegetable noted for red bulb onion and fresh eating and storage. It grows in USDA zones 3a-10a, prefers full sun and loam and sandy soils, and harvest timing is red onions in summer.
Fit and caveats
Red Burgundy onion is an allium crop where day length, planting season, and curing matter. The right choice depends on whether the gardener wants bulbs, greens, cloves, or a perennial clump.
Best fit
- Beds in its listed growing range with full sun, loose soil, and low weed pressure.
- Gardeners who match onion type to day length and local planting windows.
- Sites where weeds can be controlled because alliums compete poorly.
Use caution
- Onions are day-length sensitive; the wrong type can make leaves without good bulbs.
- Alliums are shallow-rooted and do not handle weed competition well.
- Overwatering near maturity can reduce storage quality.
- Cure storage bulbs in dry airflow before long storage.
Regional notes
- In Southern ZIPs, short-day onions and fall/winter planting windows often matter.
- In northern ZIPs, long-day onions and fall-planted hardneck garlic are often better fits.
- Perennial alliums can be useful in small gardens, but clumps still need dividing and containment.
Comparison note: Compared with carrots or beets, Red Burgundy onion is less about root shape and more about day length, planting timing, and curing. Compare alliums by harvest goal: green tops, bulbs, cloves, or perennial divisions.
Photos
Harvest and uses
- Harvest window
- red onions in summer
- Yield return
- 0.3-0.5 lb/plant/season
- First harvest
- 90-120 days
- Best for
- Vegetables & herbs, Curb appeal & color
- Notable traits
- red bulb onion, fresh eating and storage
Spacing, yield, and timing
How far apart should you plant Red Burgundy onion?
Plant Red Burgundy onion at 0.3-0.5 ft in-row x 1-1.5 ft rows. Adjust this starting point for trellises, hedges, rootstock, containers, pruning style, or local extension guidance.
How much does Red Burgundy onion produce?
Red Burgundy onion yield is modeled as 0.3-0.5 lb/plant/season. Treat that as a planning range, because weather, soil, watering, pruning, pests, and local pressure can change the real result.
How long does Red Burgundy onion take to produce?
Red Burgundy onion usually reaches first useful harvest or display in 90-120 days under suitable conditions.
How do you grow Red Burgundy onion?
Grow Red Burgundy onion in USDA zones 3a-10a with full light, loam, sandy soil, and medium water. Use 0.3-0.5 ft in-row x 1-1.5 ft rows for layout planning. Match the plant to drainage, heat, chill, and pest pressure before scaling up.
Can Red Burgundy onion grow in a container?
Red Burgundy onion can start with a container of about 2+ gal (good). Larger containers usually buffer heat and moisture swings better than the minimum.
- 10-year return
- 3-5 lb/10 yrs
- Full output
- This season
- Planting depth
- Plant 0.5-1 in deep
- Productive life
- 1 yrs
- Difficulty
- 2/5
- Reliability
- 4/5
- Data quality
- Medium profile, Medium yield confidence
Yield varies most with climate, soil, rootstock, pruning, pest pressure, and wildlife.
Estimated Pound Return
Medium yield confidence- Year 1
- 0.3-0.5 lb First-year estimate from the sourced curve.
- Year 5
- 0.3-0.5 lb
- Year 10
- 0.3-0.5 lb
- 10-year total
- 3-5 lb/10 yrs
Shaded band shows the sourced low-to-high pound-yield range. The line tracks the midpoint for quick comparison.
Method: direct pound yield from crop metric source. Annual crops assume one comparable planting per year; perennial crops ramp from first bearing to full production.
Planting, care, and risk checks
Checklist
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Right-size container with drainage
Containers / Before plantingUse a container large enough for mature roots, with open drainage holes to prevent root rot.
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Expanding container potting mix
Containers / Before plantingUse a lighter container medium instead of dense garden soil in pots and grow bags.
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Seed-starting trays
Propagation / Pre-seasonStart annual vegetables, herbs, and flowers ahead of transplant season.
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Seedling grow light
Propagation / Pre-seasonKeep indoor seedlings compact and sturdy before they move outside.
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Floating row cover
Protection / At plantingProtect young crops from wind, light frost, and early pest pressure while still letting light and water through.
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Balanced garden fertilizer
Nutrition / During growthFeed annual vegetables, herbs, flowers, and hungry container crops according to soil or label guidance.
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Soil thermometer
Timing / Before plantingCheck whether spring soil is actually warm enough for direct sowing, transplanting, and tender warm-season crops.
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Soil test kit or lab mailer
Site prep / Before plantingCheck pH and baseline nutrients before adding amendments, especially for fruiting crops, native beds, and acid-loving plants.
Planting strategy
- Planting depth: Plant 0.5-1 in deep
- Container minimum: 2+ gal (good). Shallow to medium containers work when depth matches the root crop.
- Start with one plant when testing fit in a new bed or container.
- Plant more than one when harvest volume or pollination is the main goal.
- Pairing map: 5 nearby companion or variety options.
Risk factors
- Deer pressure: Not rated. No deer-resistance category is assigned yet; treat browsing risk as local and variable.
- Black walnut: Better near black walnut. Use as a black walnut / juglone planning cue; tolerance varies by cultivar, soil, and distance from the tree.
- Match the site first: full light, loam, sandy soil, and medium water.
- Use 0.3-0.5 ft in-row x 1-1.5 ft rows as the first spacing model; adjust for hedges, trellises, containers, or local guidance.
- Plan around mature size: 1-2 ft H x 0.3-0.5 ft W.
- For harvest planning, treat "red onions in summer" and 0.3-0.5 lb/plant/season as planning ranges, not guarantees.
- Local drainage, pests, chill hours, wildlife pressure, and microclimates can change the result.
Related planning guides
Comparable plants
Companion plants and pairings
Plant Nearby
Carrots and alliums are compact crops that share bed space well and make sense as alternating rows or close neighbors.
Use it: Alternate short rows or narrow bands, keeping both crops evenly watered while roots size up.
Sources and methodology
This guide combines hardiness range, light, soil, water, harvest timing, traits, supplier links, plant relationships, and quantitative planning metrics. Pairings are screened for practical garden fit.
Quantitative values use extension and botanical-reference ranges where available. For less-studied cultivars, similar crops fill gaps conservatively. Ranges are intentionally broad so the profile stays useful without pretending to be exact.
Planning sources: University of Minnesota Extension - Crop and Field Planning Tools for Vegetable FarmersUniversity of Maine Extension - Planting Chart for the Home Vegetable GardenLSU AgCenter - Expected Vegetable Garden YieldsUGA Extension - Growing Vegetables OrganicallyUniversity of Maryland Extension - Types of Containers for Growing Vegetables
Editorial sources: University of Minnesota Extension: Growing onions in home gardensUGA Extension: Home GardeningVirginia Cooperative Extension: Home Garden Vegetable Planting GuideUniversity of Minnesota Extension: Growing herbs in home gardens
Affiliate listing: Amazon. Search links are not paid placements unless explicitly marked; affiliate listings may earn a commission. Last reviewed: 2026-05-31.