Onion ‘Purplette’—a charming little purple beauty that’s as tasty as it is eye-catching! This variety is a small, sweet, purple-skinned onion, perfect for home gardens and adding a splash of colour to your salads, salsas, and cooking.

‘Purplette’ originates from Europe, with its cultivation dating back to the mid-20th century. It became popular for its mild flavour and compact size, making it a favourite for backyard gardeners looking for a quick-growing onion with vibrant colour.

Nutritionally, these onions are a powerhouse. They’re rich in vitamin C, vitamin B6, folate, and potassium. They also contain antioxidants like quercetin and anthocyanins—the compounds that give the skin its lovely purple hue—which are great for reducing inflammation and supporting heart health. They are low in calories but pack a lot of flavour and nutrition, making them perfect for healthy meals.

‘Purplette’ onions grow as short-day or intermediate-day onions, depending on your climate. They prefer full sun and well-drained, fertile soil. The bulbs are small to medium, maturing in roughly 90–100 days from seed. Because they’re compact, they’re excellent for containers as well as garden beds.

How to Grow:

To grow ‘Purplette’ from seed, start indoors about 8–10 weeks before your last expected frost.

Sow seeds lightly, just covering them with a thin layer of soil, and keep them moist.

When seedlings are about 10–15 cm tall, gradually harden them off and transplant them into your garden or larger pots, spacing them around 10–15 cm apart.

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, and watch out for pests like thrips. With a little care, you’ll have vibrant, tasty purple onions ready to harvest in early summer!

Picture by: Svklimkin, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons