Onion, Rose de Roscoff Keravel (Organic)
Allium cepa. Pink Storage. 105 days. Long Day.
The pretty rosy-pink skin of this onion is not the only thing that sets it apart. Flavor is both delicately sweet and piquant, complex yet not overpowering. White flesh with light pink layers. Good for braiding and long storage. Rose de Roscoff Keravel is a selection of a type of onion known as Oignon de Roscoff in France. This French heritage cultivar has been grown since the 17th century in Roscoff, Brittany. High in Vitamin C, onions from Brittany were sold to merchant ships as a cure for scurvy. From the 1800s until the 1950s, “Onion Johnnies” would travel as far as England selling their famous onions, often on bicycles draped with onion braids. The climate in Brittany must be similar enough to our location in the Pacific Northwest, because Rose de Roscoff Keravel is right at home here. We want to thank Myrtha Zierock for sourcing the seed and bringing this variety to Oregon.
For bulb onions, sow indoors in flats with good potting soil February through March. Transplant into the garden in April or May, when plants are at least the size of a No. 2 pencil lead. Space 6” in rows that are 1’ apart. Onions benefit from frequent watering and shallow cultivation. Stop irrigating in August. Harvest when stem has shriveled and tipped over.
Seed Saving
To save seed, replant at least 20 onions (to avoid inbreeding) in the second spring. Large, beautiful globe shaped flowers attract pollinators. Cut whole seed heads when they open and show the black seeds. Thresh gently and winnow to remove debris and hollow seeds. Isolate from other Alliums of the same species by at least ½ mile.
Sylvia Ernst (verified owner) –
Where did you grow this variety? Oregon
Rose de Roscoff is a wonderful large pink onion, very juicy, with a delicate flavor, not very pungent and very fresh tasting. It is great fresh out of the garden or in winter from storage. Great in salads or roasted whole in the oven, very versatile. So far this onion is holding up remarkably well, it is January now and we store it at around 70 deg and it is just tasty and fresh as it was in August. The pink color is beautiful and is adding that extra little bit special to a salad. Rose de Roscoff is going to be my go to onion from here on although I will always plant a few others just for fun, but this is the new go to main stay all around onion. Hope you wonderful folks at Adaptive Seeds will carry Rose de Roscoff in the future too.
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Sarah Waterkotte (verified owner) –
Where did you grow this variety? Washington
Started these seeds in late January, planted out in late April and most were ready to harvest by July (granted, we had a warmer and drier than normal summer). Hung them on mesh fencing to do the initial curing and then on covered porch or tables in the shop with fan for final dry down. Extremely healthy, consistent size, sweet taste and excellent keeping. I have one string currently inside and the rest in our unheated shop that runs between 35-60F. They are are all still firm and not sprouting in mid-Feb. I am hoping these aren’t sold out before you reopen ordering on the 19th.
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Michael (verified owner) –
Where did you grow this variety? Oregon
There’s no better onion in this world than this Rose de Roscoff Keravel variety. Gorgeous pink and white color, beautiful figure slightly stooped from the top, sweet and crunchy texture, extra long storage, etc etc.
I wish I were a writer to pen a poetic review this variety deserves.
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Gabriella Kadar (verified owner) –
Where did you grow this variety? Canada
Rose de Roscoff Keravel is the best onion in the world. The first time I ate one was in 2011. The farmer sold them to a supermarket in Toronto and I was intrigued. Then he went bankrupt because he invested money to supply Costco with French shallots. Well, we know how that works out. It’s the ‘squeeze’.
Anyway, once I got my allotment I started looking for this onion and I found it here. I’m so happy to be able to grow the pink onions in Toronto. Of course the onion farmers of Brittany claim that these onions only grow well there but I have news for them.
These onions also keep well.
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