100% Certified Organic & Demeter Certified Bio-Dynamic Seed
Grown, harvested, dried and packed on Transition Farm
NOTE - WA Customers: Transition Farm Tomato, Capsicum and Chilli Seeds have been cleared for importation into Western Australia.
If ordering from Western Australia, our next batch shipment date is 6 January 2025. For more options, check the POSTAGE page.
Onion 'Reg O'Connor' Cipollini (early Melbourne white)
Onion 'Reg O'Connor' Cipollini (early Melbourne white)
Allium cepa
A farmer improved white cipollini (‘Early Melbourne White’ in the Melbourne markets) onion with a very sweet, mild flavour. Delicious carmelisation with heat. Versatile variety, can be used for fresh bunching market and mature, dried in braids. Improved bulb density with tighter rings for longer storage. Taste test winner! February - April sowing is possible where winter is moderate. Reliably produced early bulbs in our 37 latitude from early Spring sown plants.
This seed was past to us from the collection of Reg O’Connor, a Melbourne market grower. We trialed it against many other white cipollinis and found it to have a fuller shaped bulb, even though it is still flat like a cipollini, with tighter rings then any of the others and hence a longer storage life. We have continued our selection trying to eliminate double heads and only producing seed from those bulbs that lasted through Winter.
Certified Demeter Biodynamic and Certified Organic
SEED COUNT: 200, 1000 approx.
Germination: Lot#19388 98% APR 2024
PLEASE NOTE: We do not authorize the repackaging of our seed without written permission
Seed Raising, Growing and Harvest Information
| Plant Type | Site | Spacing | Height | Sowing Depth |
Days to Germination |
Days to Maturity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardy Annual |
Full Sun | 3-5 seed per cell 10cm apart in rows 40cm apart |
50cm | 6-10mm | 7-10 days @ 17-27 degrees |
90 days |
DIRECT SOW - Plant seed 6-10mm deep, 3-5 seeds every 10cm in rows 40cm apart during July, August or early September in prepared, well-draining soil. Thin to 5 or 6cm apart using the thinning’s as scallions.
TRANSPLANT - Days to maturity are from direct seeding, subtract 1-2 weeks if transplanting. Start transplants 10-12 weeks before planting date. Sow thickly in flats or 1” cells, in singles, doubles or triples. We have had good results planting multi cells spaced wider in the field.
NOTES - Onions compete poorly with weeds. Cultivate regularly to control weed pressure.
HARVEST - For fresh eating, onions can be harvested whenever they reach desired size. Storage onions can be harvested when 80% of the tops dry up and flop over. Pull bulbs from ground and cure in an airy, shaded place for two weeks at 22-25°F and 80% relative humidity.
STORAGE - Cool slowly, and store at steady temperatures. Rapid cooling followed by a sudden warm period might break dormancy and cause onions to sprout. Optimal storage is at near freezing temperatures at 65-70% relative humidity.
