I know I'm a pest but need ya'alls expertise AGAIN. When I was a kid my grandparents had everbearing? Bunching onions in the flower bed. It was a long long time ago but best I remember we ate them year round(in tx panhandle) BUT we always cut root off and replanted it. Yep, I thought there was a chance I dreamed it all but checked with aunt and yes they had them. She even started them in her yard and her parents. She had no clue what variety they were either. So I did plant a variety of bunching onion called lisbon. That's all I could find that even came close. However everything I can find about them say they are an annual. The seeds did well and are growing fine but ever sooooo slow. If these are truly an annual, for sure don't want to do this again. Onion sets will do much much better for my purposes. If these won't winter over and spread it's sure a waste to cut off roots, replant and all that jazz. So, if anybody knows what I'm talking about Please let me know. Otherwise, I'll just see what happens next spring.
New question? Bunching Onions?
I remember my Dad putting in bunching onions here in Houston but he did it every spring. One onion made a bunch when they were "done". He called them shallots because that's what they were sold as in the feed store so I grew up thinking they were shallots and finding out differently later such as about 3 yrs. ago Never gave it much though - that's just the way things were. I remember that we pulled a bunch and just cut the root off at the very base of the white part and ate just the white part. This certainly brings back memories of the old Victory Gardens.
Ann
I wonder if they could have been something like this? Egyptian walking onion
http://www.southernexposure.com/productlist/prods/66604.html
http://gardening.about.com/od/gardeningwithkids/ig/Vegetable-Gardening-with-Kids/Egyptian-Walking-Onion.htm
Or this a potato onion?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potato_onion
Dutch, I have some Egyptian walking onions that someone gave me a start of last year.
They are not ready to harvest yet, but I will keep you in mind when I harvest them.
Maybe you will be able to come to our Fall swap and pick them up then.
Josephine.
I have a multiplier onion. I leave it in ground year around. The bulbs which I don't harvest will come back as a large cluster of onions the next year. I have kept these 3 years now and don't know the cultivar. They were purchased at a local feed store. I have heard some of the oldtimers here call them potato onions. Mine have bloomed and the foliage is now dying back. If you are interested, I will be glad to share some bulbs with you. http://davesgarden.com/journal/j/viewentry/111609/
I also have the walking onions which are just now setting plantlets. http://davesgarden.com/journal/j/viewentry/111405/
Podster - if you have extra bulbs to spare of each I'd love to make a trade with you. I have lot's to spare. Too many cacti and succulents on the back porch and I'm just going to have to say goodbye to some. It's getting hard to get to the grill. I also have just started cuttings of Lady Banksia - white, duranta, turk's cap, more mexican flame vine, tangerine esperanza, almond verbena, 'Marilyn's Choice' abutilon....not sure what will take yet and what will not but whatever does, they're open for trade. Also have an orchid vine, snail vine and clematis (these are all ready now).
Oooohh ~ I am baited, let me do some research. If I take some off your hands what will be "grilled" and what time will it be ready? : )
You guys are great - Frostweed - I'll definitely take you up - I hope to make it to roundup. I'm not sure I have anything to trade but who knows by fall? Neither one sounds like what Grandma & Grandaddy had but - I was very young and I may not remember all I should. The potato onion Podster talks about sounds more like it but both sound like something I want. Please keep me in mind when you harvest and thanks.. I really hope to make roundup!!
Podster- are yours potato onions ready now?? Maybe I can pay freight?
Pod - well, this weekend I'm grilling peaches! I have so many right now that I decided to grill them along with some chicken and make a salad. I saw that on a cooking show and it looks divine. Be ready about 4:00 Sunday afternoon (got a Greek Festival to go to tomorrow) ;>}
DH thinks I have perverted taste buds but that sounds great! LMK how they turn out.
When I set the multiplier onions out, it was in spring. I really don't know if this is the time but will dig up a clump to share with you both. Worth a try and you can let us know if this is the right time to replant.
Either that or we can wait until Fall.
Did you see any of my trades that you might like? The cuttings aren't looking too good at the moment. I think I'm gonna have to try again. I left them in full afternoon sun. Time to get my wagon back there and pull everything around by the shed.
This message was edited May 18, 2007 9:30 PM
Kristi ~ hadn't had time to research yet. Please be patient with me. This time of year (we are too dry already) I am watering too much ~ wondering why I need another plant! LOL
I know the feeling. I had to hand water the beds this morning. And we had all that rain recently! Seems a shame to have to be doing all this watering already.
Take your time. I think I'm going to have to start the cuttings all over anyway (except for the vines, they're ready).
You know I think the more rain we get the more shallow the roots grow. Then when it dries, the plants wilt far more quickly. I actually prefer being a little drier to let the roots grow deeply in search of moisture. On the other hand, I would like a good soaking rain before I apply more mulch.
Re: these onions, I have been looking thru the reference books and all indicators say to plant in midwinter so they will have a jump on spring in mild climates. Seems I started them in Oct here. Anyway, I am ashamed to say I need to dig them up as they will no longer outgrow their clumps. So will plan to do so this fall and please help remind me ~ I get "sometimers" disease. Sometimes I remember and sometimes I can't... pod
we grow the multiplier onions.................we planted as a winter crop............they are now gone (or should we say we pulled up what we couldn't give away............wonderful to eat
gail
Do you store your onions? How?
I don't know how to save the multiplier onions....we took 3 15 gallon tree pots full of onions to church............when everyone had what they wanted, we threw the rest away....wish I did know how to store them....(people don't have cool cellars in south Texas ) (LOL)
Do you save some to start for next year? I have left my extra in the ground. After the foliage dies down, I forget about them. When they start growth, it always delights me.
We don't save them because every feed store has them for practically nothing when the time comes in the fall......we need the garden for a spring garden...........the ground needs to be tilled and lots of other things done to amend it....
Yes, that's where I got mine too. I need to dig them up and replant this fall...