Onion Red Baron

The deep ruby onion that has become the standard red in British gardens and supermarkets alike. Medium globes of 150 to 200 grams with intense red-purple skin and red-ringed white flesh — cut one across and the rings glow.

Where Ailsa Craig is the show onion, this is the everyday size, right for a single recipe rather than feeding a household from one bulb. The flavour is the proper red-onion profile: sweeter and milder than a yellow, with a slight sharpness that softens completely when cooked.

Its real advantage is keeping. Most red onions store poorly, but a well-cured Red Baron holds from harvest through to March or April, which means you can grow your entire winter supply rather than buying them.