Pompii Onion

Product Summary

A compact Italian heirloom onion variety producing small, uniform pearl-sized bulbs with a mild, clean flavor. Excellent for pickling, roasting, soups, stews, salads, and cooking whole.

Description

Pompeii Onion is a distinctive heirloom onion variety valued for its small, uniform bulbs and versatility in the kitchen. The bulbs are typically produced in a petite pearl-onion size, making them especially convenient for pickling, roasting, braising, and cooking whole.

The onions have a mild, clean flavor and can be harvested young for bunching or allowed to develop into small bulbs. Their compact size makes them particularly suitable for containers, raised beds, and smaller garden spaces.

Botanical Name: Allium cepa

When to Plant in the UAE

• Direct sowing: Plant seeds from October to November.
• Growing season: Cool-season conditions are ideal for onion development in the UAE.
• For best results, grow during the cooler months and avoid establishing the crop during the peak summer heat.

Planting & Care Tips

• Sunlight: Full sun, ideally 6–8 hours daily.
• Soil: Loose, fertile, well-draining soil enriched with organic matter.
• Sowing depth: Approximately 0.5–1 cm deep.
• Germination: Usually around 7–14 days under suitable conditions.
• Spacing: Thin seedlings to approximately 5–10 cm apart depending on the desired bulb size.
• Row spacing: Around 25–30 cm.
• Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially while bulbs are developing, but avoid waterlogging.
• Feeding: Use compost or well-rotted organic matter before planting and provide a balanced fertilizer during active growth.
• Weeding: Keep the planting area free of weeds, as onions have relatively shallow roots.
• Harvest: Harvest young for bunching onions or allow the bulbs to mature for small pearl onions. When mature, the foliage will begin to yellow and fall over.
• Storage: Allow mature bulbs to dry and cure thoroughly in a dry, well-ventilated area before storage.