Thursday 27 October 2016

Everlasting Onions

Well Norfolkgray on the Grow Your Own Grapevine forum asked if anyone wanted everlasting onions. I said yes and she kindly sent some to me together with some tomato seeds she didn't want. I do love that forum, they are such a nice crowd on there and they have a good sense of humour.

They were planted straight away and watered and are now relaxing after their journey in the SpaceSaver greenhouse.

Everlasting onions (Allium cepa perutile) are a rare perennial onion which is extremely productive and undemanding.  They do not appear to suffer pests or diseases, frost does not bother them, and if it gets too hot and dry they die down to bulbs. 

From what I have been told and researched they appear to be one of the easiest and most productive vegetables to grow, just like all perennial vegetables you plant once and harvest forever.

Everlasting onions know what they are doing as far as reproduction goes.  They split in half numerous times throughout the year.  If they are divided each division will also multiply, so hopefully it will not take too much time to create a decent patch.

I've also read that If you cut off the roots with a few mm of the base of the bulb this can be sprouted and replanted. They grow into strong clumps that you 'pull' as required for any purpose you need onions for. They can last many years and will grow in part shade.
These are grown in Russia and as the name implies will sustain very severe Winter weather.

Recommended by the RHS to be an excellent attractant and nectar source for bees and other beneficial insects if allowed to 'go over' and flower (so if you have room leave any plants in that have gone too far rather than pulling them out straight away).
  • Sowing Instructions: Sow thinly in drills ¾” (2 cm) deep in rows 15” apart from mid March (weather permitting) until early Sept.
  • Harvest and use immediately when they have reached your desired size, thinning the row as you go.
  • Always ensure you do not clear all the plants from a row, this allows them to clump up and regenerate.
  • Winter hardy these can be ‘kept going’ from Season to Season
For more information see victoriananursery.co.uk

3 comments:

  1. Hi Alan,
    Are they also known as 'Welsh Onions' or is that a whole different ball game.

    Balders

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  2. As different as Jachin and Boaz ;), they get called Welsh Onions but they aren't there is an old thread on the grapevine about them. It has to be said the little blighter s are really growing quickly the new growth in very green and lush since they have been re-planted. I'm also goinf to have a crack at potato and walking onions.

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  3. I have had "everlasting onion" for years and let them die down and they will come back in February. They are great for all cooking needs. SMILE

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