ONION - SHALLOT - ROSSA LUNGA DI FIRENZE (500 SEEDS)

These eye-catching purple-red heirlooms are 4 to 5 in. torpedo shaped onions with a rich, but mild and sweet flavor. Traditionally grown in Italy & France, Rossa Lunga di Firenze is an intermediate day length onion, growing easily from seed to mature at midsummer in most areas. These adaptable and space-saving wine colored beauties offer great garden performance and their juicy, mild, crispy red flesh absolutely shines in salads and sandwiches, or when grilled to sweet succulence.

Preparation:

Choose an open, sunny site with good drainage which has preferably been dug and manured in the previous autumn. Do not plant or sow on freshly manured bed. Lime if the soil is acid. Avoid planting in an area where the previous crop was of the onion family. Apply a general fertiliser if needed and rake the surface when the soil is reasonably dry. Tread over the area and then rake again to produce a fine, even tilth.

Timing: Sow in late winter to spring. January to April.

Seed-grown shallots are treated like onions, and can be either direct seeded into the ground or seeded into modular trays and transplanted. In cold areas and for early crops sow early in a propagator or under glass in January to February, or sow direct March to April once the soil has warmed. Harden off and transplant outdoors six weeks later.

Sowing:

Sow very thinly in 1.2cm (½in) deep drills, leaving about 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12in) between rows. Water very gently if the soil is dry, and cover with soil. When large enough to handle, thin the crop to 8 to 10cm apart. And replant thinnings. The roots must fall vertically in the planting hole and the bulb base should be about 1cm (½ in) below the surface. Plant firmly.

Cultivation:

Once the roots have taken hold, the tops of the bulbs should be kept a little above ground. If they are low in the ground, draw away a little of the soil surrounding the bulbs. Hoe carefully or weed by hand – dense weed growth will seriously affect yield.Water if the weather is dry (not otherwise) and feed occasionally. Mulching is useful for cutting down the need for water and for suppressing weeds. Break off any flower stems which appear. Stop watering once the bulbs have swollen and pull back the covering earth or mulch to expose the bulb surface to the sun.

Harvesting:

When the shallot is mature the foliage turns yellow and topples over. (Some gardeners bend over the tops as the leaves start to yellow). Leave them for about two weeks and then carefully lift with a fork on a dry day.

Fresh seeds are packed in ziplock bags! 

Packaging & Delivery: After payment has been received, the item will be shipped within 2 working days. Usually it takes 1-3 weeks for delivery, depends on the location. Some location may take longer. If you have any problems please contact us directly and we will be delighted to help. Your success is our success.