The Melody onion is a medium-maturing, high-yielding hybrid of the bulb type, developed for cultivation as an annual crop in Ukraine and Moldova. It is suitable for both direct sowing and transplanting methods. When sown directly into the open ground, the bulb forms within one growing season, approximately in 9-9.5 weeks. The recommended seeding rate is about 1 million seeds per hectare, seed depth is 1.0-1.5 cm, and transplanting spacing is 5-7 plants per 10-15 cm. The time from sowing to mass yellowing and wilting of leaves is 90-120 days. Melody bulbs have a round shape and an attractive golden-yellow or bright bronze hue on the upper scales. The flesh is snow-white, tender, semi-sharp, crisp, and free of bitterness, making this variety ideal for fresh consumption and processing. The hybrid features high bulb density and excellent upper scale retention, contributing to good storability and long-term storage capability. The leaves are dark green with a waxy coating, which enhances the plant's resistance to adverse weather conditions. Melody exhibits high resistance to major diseases such as downy mildew, root rot, and fusarium, significantly reducing cultivation risks. Due to its adaptability and disease resistance, this hybrid is well-suited for mechanical harvesting and provides high marketable yields — up to 2.2-2.7 kg per square meter. The Melody onion was developed by specialists of the agrocompany Bejo Zaden B.V. and has been successfully used in agriculture since 2004 as a salad-type variety with high productivity.
