What type of onion is this

A friend gave me onion sets that produce 'onion sets' at the top. Unlike regular green onions that will go to seed and make a 'ball' of tiney flowers these actually produce onion sets at the tops. The sets on top fall and grow more onions so there is a never ending crop. What are these?? They are amazing and she gave me a few to plant and get started.

Kathy

one of the top stting varieties. Egyptian Walking is the most prevalent, Others include Heritage White and Catawissa.

That is it ! I have never seen these. I will google them. What a great way to have a good supply - if they are good. Probably like any other green onion that's yellow???

Thanks for the info - Kathy

Matter of taste actually. For me just a curiosity, very small and very strong. Good for seasoning or used for the green tops. I kee p a perennial bed of them but rarely use them when I have other onions available.

I've raised Egyptian Top Onions on and off for many years, more as a curiosity as anything else. I agree they are mostly just strong and hot.

If you want permanent green onions, any of the Japanese varieties of Allium fistulosum should work very well. I am completely sold on them after one small bed provided onions for cutting for two seasons here in Gainesville, Fl. We had a record number of winter days in the 20's in the winter of 2010-2011 followed by a brutally hot 2011 summer and they are continuing to thrive in a large self-watering container, providing material for soups, salads and stir-fries. I had been told they probably wouldn't survive the summers here (the Japanese varieties are grown in much colder areas over there) but they did fine. I did remove most of the flowering stalks to help concentrate the energy in the roots and leaves.

-Rich

Rich,
I've never heard of these onions. I'll have to find a source to buy them. Don't think that is something VA or my part of VA has.....

Kathy

Kitazawa has the largest selection, and identifies them as A. fistulosum (as opposed to the usual Allium cepa). Given the role of green onions in Japanese cuisine, that is not surprising. Territorial identifies their "Guardsman" as A. fistulosum, and also carries "Shimonita". Thompson & Morgan carries "Ishikuro".

I've compiled a variety list of types I've tried from seed. In fact, though I have plenty already I am growing out a few that don't have species listed (or which are identified by different seed companies as being of different species). Once the plants are big enough it's easy to tell the difference: leaves of A. cepa are somewhat flattened in cross section or have one flat side; those of A. fistulosum are round. I have yet to determine for myself if there is a true A. fistulosum that produces red pigment - that's one of the things I'm working on at the moment.

-Rich

I've grown Eqyptian Walking Onion on and off for sometime as well. They are very strong but work out well in stir fries. Also, if you roast them as you would roast garlic they mellow out pretty well and then mix into stews or soups nicely. But then, I'm always drawn to curiosities in the garden......