BOTANICAL NAME: Allium cepa var. proliferum
COMMON NAMES: walking onions; Egyptian onions; topset onions
FAMILY: Alliaceae, the onion family
PLANT DESCRIPTION
Tree onions produce up to 6-10 tender, juicy, mild onions at the base of the plant; and a stiff stem with 6-8 bulbils, or little onions, at the top. A biennial, it will self-propagate by folding its stem to the ground so that the bulbils plant themselves. It is the most cold-hardy of all the onions and survives frozen ground.
USES
The top bulbils are used for pickling. The base bulb is a tender, juicy salad onion. Tree onions will keep for up to 12 months.
PLANTING DETAILS
Recommended planting time: Plant May to December in a sunny, well-drained position. Plant in late spring in cooler areas.
Planting depth: Plant tree onions 3 cm deep.
Plant spacing: Space bulbs 15-20 cm apart.
Growing details: Soil is best prepared a few months before planting. For a good crop, tree onions require a rich, loam soil. Avoid using manure, as too high a nitrogen content will reduce the keeping quality of the tree onions. Check the pH and add lime to correct acidity.
HARVEST
Harvest the tree onions when the stalks dry, gather the bulbils and plant out straight away. Spread the bulbs on a wire screen in a cool, well-ventilated shelter to dry. Store in a cool, dry place or hang up in open weave bags.
