Red Amposta originates from Italy. But it can be grown very well in our colder climate. It produces large, bright red, bulbous onions with red and white rings. Best sown early in spring.
Onions are the basis for many dishes. They are very versatile and healthy. You can boil, fry, stew, steam, stuff, grate, fry, caramelise, cook in the oven, use in stews, soups and sauces. Onions are very healthy and full of: polyphenols. It also contains a lot of vitamins B, C, B6 and B11. It also contains minerals such as: potassium, iron, phosphorus, calcium, manganese and molybdenum. It also contains tryptophan. Use onions in, for example Mexican recipes, salsas, chutneys, salads, with meat, in onion soup, in soups, in stir-fries, in stews, in oven dishes, in Guacamole, in dressings, in potato salad, in Quiches and in soups and sauces. Onions combine wonderfully with: chicken, fish, beef, pork, minced meat, eggs, cheese, cream, butter, garlic, rice, pasta, feta cheese, salmon, tuna, cod, apple, nuts and shrimp. And with other vegetables such as: peppers, leeks, tomatoes, potatoes, spinach, mushrooms, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, aubergine, courgette and pumpkin. Non hardy annuals.
Indoor sowing: March - April
Outdoor sowing: June - August
Germination: 10 - 12 days
Germination temp.: 9 - 15 °C
Sowing depth: 1 - 1½ cm
Plant distance: 12 cm
Row distance: 30 - 45 cm
Plant position: sunny
Harvest period: September - October
Sow indoors from March - April in trays filled with moist potting compost. Sow the seeds sparingly and 1 - 1½ cm deep. Cover the seeds with a layer of sowing soil, as onions are dark germinators. Keep the temperature as even as possible. Especially don't let the temperature drop at night. Keep well moist. As soon as there is no more chance of night frost, put the seedlings outside in April in a sunny place with good drainage. Cut the seedlings at the top, so that they are 8 cm long. Put them 6 cm deep under the soil. Keep well moist and weed free.
Sowing outside is possible from June, when the soil has warmed up. Sow in rows 30 - 45 cm apart. Sow sparingly and 1 - 1½ cm deep. Cover the seeds with a layer of seed soil, because onions are dark germinators. Thin out the seedlings to 12 cm when they are about 15 cm tall. Keep well moist and weed free.
Harvest the onions when the tops are brown and dry. Pull the bulbs up out of the ground. Onions need nutrient rich, moist soil enriched with compost. Don't sow or plant onions in a place where onions have stood in the previous 4 years. Placing strongly scented plants such as chamomile, savory and carrots in the immediate vicinity of the onions could have a disruptive effect on the onion fly. Let your harvested onions dry well before storing them in a dry, cool, dark place. In this way, your onions can be stored for a month.
