When do I plant walking onions?

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dispatcher1 Seymour, IN(Zone 5b) Oct 24, 2006

I got some walking onion seed in a round robin and I read that the seeds don't store well. Should I plant them now? Indoors or outdoors? They sound neat and I use a lot of onions in cooking. Lou

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Farmerdill Augusta, GA(Zone 8a) Oct 24, 2006

Do you really have "walking onions"? http://davesgarden.com/pf/adv_search.php?searcher%5Bcommon%5D=onion%2C+walking&searcher%5Bfamily%5D=&searcher%5Bgenus%5D=&searcher%5Bspecies%5D=&searcher%5Bcultivar%5D=&searcher%5Bhybridizer%5D=&search_prefs%5Bsort_by%5D=rating&images_prefs=both&Search=Search These normally do not seed, but form small bulblets where the seed head should be. When the tops fall over, these bulblets root and take off. They are really a perennial, once established they keep going unless shaded out by weeds. They are tough and overwinter nicely. I have growm them as far north as zone 6 and freezing does not seem to bother them If this is what you have, I would set them now. Note tho that the in ground bulb, never gets any size, but makes a nice green onion (bunching) onion in the spring. They are strong flavored. The first bulblets that forms in the seedhead get about as big as pearl onions and are more useful than the main bulb.

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dispatcher1 Seymour, IN(Zone 5b) Oct 24, 2006

They are about the size of a pencil eraser. Maybe they are small bulbs. The Package said " Walking Onion" and not being familiar with them, assumed they were seeds. I will plant them and see. Thanks so much for your imput. Lou

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Farmerdill Augusta, GA(Zone 8a) Oct 24, 2006

Sounds right. They are best planted in a perennial bed rateher than a regular vegetable garden. I dig mine up and reset them every two or three years as they get too crowded. Other than that I can clip off the heads that try to walk acrosss the yard.

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podster Deep East Texas, TX(Zone 8a) Oct 25, 2006

Yes, Farmerdill is on the money. I have these and the bulblets look like tiny onions. The photo is what they look like when they sprout the walkers. Mine are really starting to pick up for the winter. They suffer in our heat.

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podster Deep East Texas, TX(Zone 8a) Oct 25, 2006

This is a poor picture but the only one I have with the onion set touching the ground. This was in June...

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dispatcher1 Seymour, IN(Zone 5b) Oct 25, 2006

Thanks, I will get them in the ground soon. Lou

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