Walking, Egyptian, Air, Tree Onions

During 2016 I purchased my first Tree Onions, Top Onions, Topset Onions, Top Setting Onions, Walking Onions, Egyptian Walking Onions, Air Onions. and each year after I was on top of growing the Catawissa onions I had invested in and had 100's of them growing in the space saver greenhouse at home, some got replanted and others were for consumption. 

In 2022 I purchased five bulbils of Moritz Egyptian, Catawissa' 'Catawissa Onion', McCullar's White Topset Onion and Amish Walking Onions for my new allotment plot because I knew from experience, just how fast these little beauties grow and how many bulbils you end up getting from each plant. 

Due to getting diagnosed with cancer and having radiotherapy and then dealing with recovery and arthritis in all my joints following the treatment the allotment got away from me late 2023 and during 2024, and in Autumn I'm now altering the infrastructure of the plot and taking areas back that have been overrun with bindweed.

My plan is to dedicate one of the new raised beds to Walking Onions and I have just purchased another five of the following bulbs because I don't know what's under the bindweed yet and how many onions I may recover when pulling the bindweed up from the existing Walking Onion bed.    

A = Moritz Egyptian

Similar to the typical tree onion, but the bulbs are a deeper colour (red-purple) and the topsets are slightly larger than most strains. An unusual strain that will sometimes produce sets in the middle of the stalk.

B = Catawissa' 'Catawissa Onion'

A very hardy cultivar of Canadian origin, distinguished by its vigorous growth and the rapidity with which the bulbils that commence to grow without being detached from the top of the stem. The bulbils divide into tiers, the second set of bulbils producing green shoots, leaves or barren stems to bring the height of the plant to over 75cm.

C = McCullar's White Topset

This form produces a number of white bulbs below the ground about 2.5cm or more in diameter, plus pea-sized bulbils at the top of the flower stalk. The larger bulbs are used for eating; the bulbils are used for replanting. It is used primarily as a source of greens when other onions are dormant.

D = Amish walking onions

Similar to the Catawissa tree onion, but the bulbs are smaller in size and darker red/purple colour and the topsets are smaller than most strains.

Botanical Name: Allium cepa proliferum

Common Names: Tree Onions, Top Onions, Topset Onions, Top Setting Onions, Walking Onions, Egyptian Walking Onions, Air Onions

Description:

The tree onion is a biennial plant meaning it should usually flower in its second year. However, you will find it produces small onion bulbs at the base of the plants and a multitude of small top sets where a flower should be. The number and size of bulbils can vary significantly between about 3 large top set onions and 15 smaller sets.

The parent onion behaves as a multiplier or shallot and can split to produce several small tender onions that can be eaten or regrown.

Edible Uses:

The top sets or bulbils are an ideal size for pickling or chopping into salads. The onion greens can be used just like spring onions The mature onions are tender and can be used raw or cooked like normal onions.

Planting in the UK:

Planting Period: May to December. The tree onion is quite hardy but can certainly benefit from a top mulch or growing in an unheated greenhouse to protect from frosts until it becomes established

Depth: Plant about 25mm (1 inch) deep

Spacing: Allow about 15 to 20cm between plants (6 to 8 inches)

Soil – Growing Medium: If growing in the ground, try and prepare the area in advance to produce a rich, free draining loam with a slow release, low nitrogen fertiliser. Tree onions can be grown in most composts but ensure they don't remain waterlogged or rotting of the bulb can occur. Pot grown plants can benefit from a full spectrum fertiliser that contains calcium, magnesium and sulphur.

Harvesting:

Onions have a natural cycle and the onion stems will tend to dry and die back as the goodness is transferred to the onion bulb. Collect the bulbils and replant those you are using for propagation. Collect the base bulbs and allow to air dry, preferably on a mesh to avoid damp areas that may encourage mould growth. Store in a cool, dry area.

Walking Onions Arrive

 

These arrived today, I purchased 5 of each but happily there were 10 Amish Walking Onions bulbils. 

Botanical Name: Allium cepa proliferum

Common Names: Tree Onions, Top Onions, Topset Onions, Top Setting Onions, Walking Onions, Egyptian Walking Onions, Air Onions

Description:

The tree onion is a biennial plant meaning it should usually flower in its second year. However, you will find it produces small onion bulbs at the base of the plants and a multitude of small top sets where a flower should be. The number and size of bulbils can vary significantly between about 3 large top set onions and 15 smaller sets.

The parent onion behaves as a multiplier or shallot and can split to produce several small tender onions that can be eaten or regrown.

Edible Uses:

The top sets or bulbils are an ideal size for pickling or chopping into salads. The onion greens can be used just like spring onions The mature onions are tender and can be used raw or cooked like normal onions.

Planting in the UK:

Planting Period: May to December. The tree onion is quite hardy but can certainly benefit from a top mulch or growing in an unheated greenhouse to protect from frosts until it becomes established

Depth: Plant about 25mm (1 inch) deep

Spacing: Allow about 15 to 20cm between plants (6 to 8 inches)

Soil – Growing Medium: If growing in the ground, try and prepare the area in advance to produce a rich, free draining loam with a slow release, low nitrogen fertiliser. Tree onions can be grown in most composts but ensure they don't remain waterlogged or rotting of the bulb can occur. Pot grown plants can benefit from a full spectrum fertiliser that contains calcium, magnesium and sulphur.

Harvesting:

Onions have a natural cycle and the onion stems will tend to dry and die back as the goodness is transferred to the onion bulb. Collect the bulbils and replant those you are using for propagation. Collect the base bulbs and allow to air dry, preferably on a mesh to avoid damp areas that may encourage mould growth. Store in a cool, dry area.

Walking & Tree Onions

During 2016 I purchased some Top, Topset, Top Setting, Air, Tree or Egyptian Walking Onions, during 2017, 2018 & 2019 I was on top of growing the Catawissa onions I had invested in and had 100's of them growing in the space saver greenhouse. 

Then in 2020 with the pandemic and shielding my wife and not going to the allotment, I didn't get around to planting the bulbils and I've only a few walking onion left that were self seeders, so I have bought some more walking onions to kick me off again, but this time I have bought 4 different varieties to play with. 

I opted for buying 5 of each variety, because I know from experience, just how fast these little beauties grow and how many bulbils you end up getting from each plant.    

A = Moritz Egyptian

Similar to the typical tree onion, but the bulbs are a deeper colour (red-purple) and the topsets are slightly larger than most strains. An unusual strain that will sometimes produce sets in the middle of the stalk.

B = Catawissa' 'Catawissa Onion'

A very hardy cultivar of Canadian origin, distinguished by its vigorous growth and the rapidity with which the bulbils that commence to grow without being detached from the top of the stem. The bulbils divide into tiers, the second set of bulbils producing green shoots, leaves or barren stems to bring the height of the plant to over 75cm.

C = McCullar's White Topset

This form produces a number of white bulbs below the ground about 2.5cm or more in diameter, plus pea-sized bulbils at the top of the flower stalk. The larger bulbs are used for eating; the bulbils are used for replanting. It is used primarily as a source of greens when other onions are dormant.

D = Amish walking onions

Similar to the Catawissa tree onion, but the bulbs are smaller in size and darker red/purple colour and the topsets are smaller than most strains.

When the bulbils arrive I will post some photos of what I have received, and blog about their progress.  

Woodchips, Raspberries and Burning Wood

The first job this Sunday was to unwrap the raspberries and leave them in a bucket of water.

The next job was to start shifting the woodchips from the drop off area onto the plot. I haven't sorted the shed and greenhouse area yet but I want the woodchips on the plot so that I can cover the weed membrane as soon as possible after digging out the weeds and semi levelling off the area and laying the slabs.

After feeling suitably knackered and ready for a drink I had a cup of coffee from the flask, sat and looked down the allotment and the greenhouse and started to build a mental to do list. Way to many things and not enough time to get them all done today. 

I cleared the shelf in the greenhouse and placed two trays of Catawissa Onions in there and the other two trays went under the extension to the shed. Wally and John took a tray and half a dozen from me when they arrived on the site. I'm glad I'm finding homes for them as I really don't want to compost them as they have over wintered so well and someone else may be able to benefit from the huge harvest of them I had last year.

  

The rear two rows that were planted on the 11th March appear to be happy in their new bed the first row was sown with the larger bulbs and many of them have now germinated and are showing through the compost.

Next order of business was to clear the remains of the grapevine and clear the dross around the leaf bins and plant the two raspberry plants that had been soaking in a bucket of water since I arrived on the plot. 

The Raspberry plants were picked up from Lidl so the instructions are in the crazy graphic language. So if I have interpreted them correctly

Yes you can eat them
Plant in full sun or partially sunny location 
Flowers July - August
Harvest August - October 
Prune October - November 

The Storage area next to the shed received some attention in the form of clearing leafs and composting them and clearing the scraps of six year old pallets and other lengths of timber that may come in useful some day, and burning them along with other rotten scarps of wood.

We can only have fires up until the end of March which funnily enough is the same time they put the water mains back on. From a health and safety point of view I have always found that fact a bit of a paradox. 

The tables, benches and area around the shed and greenhouse needs a good tidy up and the greenhouse still needs to be emptied of all the dross that may be useful some day so that I can actually grow some plants in there.

Time goes incredibly fast when you are working on the allotment and there are days when you have done a lot but it doesn't really feel like it.

My youngers daughter rang to inform me that lunch would be late and that I could get another hour in , so I managed a few more barrow loads of woodchips and added them to the pile on my plot. After Sunday lunch my body caught up with all the exercise I had put if through, my ankles ache there again so do my legs, plus the rest of me feels fairly knackered, but it's a good kind of knackered.

In the afternoon I sowed 15 loo rolls of Amsterdam 15 loo rolls of Nandor and 10 loo rolls of Early Nantes 2 Carrot seeds with approx. 4 seed per loo roll. They are staying in the warm tonight, they may reside on top of the Grow Stations in my broom cupboard office for a few days before making their way out to the Grow Station in the shed.    

Catawissa Onion Bed Finished

Site Rep duties this morning showing the next person on the waiting list the three vacant plots on Mill Green, they are taking plot 4 and whilst showing them around the site I introduced them to other plot holders who were on site. 


Bed three was finally covered up today and the bamboo gallows bracket structure above the Catawissa Onion Bed was dismantled.  Pruning and training of the tree branches to the apple trees either side of the Catawissa onion bed was achieved by drilling and fixing eye bolts then using soft rubber / wire ties.  

The compost from Dalek three was dug out into the wheelbarrow and then used to top the onion bed to the top of the timber. The smaller bulbs I planted some time ago that been over wintering in the greenhouse, that I brought to site in two trays in a large gravel tray were enough to populate the first two rows of the planting stations, with a couple of extras encase of slug attack. The larger bulbs have only just started to sprout so I planted the larger bulbs along the front row.

I will need to make a fence up to go around the front and sides to assist in keeping the onions from falling over onto the paths as they grow and start wondering around. and to keep the blessed foxes off the bed.  I have loads of mushroom tray bottoms on Spencer Road so I will need to visit and recover what I can and knock something up.

The Beetroots and Carrots have had a day under the lights in the external grow station and it's been around 17C in there, it's cooling off this evening, but I've given the loo rolls another good watering. 

The tomatoes in the indoor portable grow stations should be OK, I will give them a water tomorrow to ensure they don't dry out. It's also nice spotting the first seeds to germinate.

Catawissa Walking Onion Bed

Decking Board cut to length and two offcuts from a joist trimmed to 2.4m forms the ends of the 2.1m x 470mm bed, the soil below dug over and weeded then lined with cardboard, hopefully to inhibit white rot spores.

Spent Compost & Qoir and the Soilfixer SF60 mix from last years potatoes in bucket experiment starts to fill the bed. Next visit a layer of leaf mould and compost from my daleks will top up the bed ready for weed membrane and Catawissa Walking Onions through weed membrane that has yet to be cut.

It's been a little while since I took a photo from this location

Looking up the plot from the path.

Plot 1A 

View From the Greenhouse Door

Not a great deal of activity in the greenhouse in January as one might expect. I'm waiting on some potatoes to show up which will need chitting but in the mean time here is what the greenhouse looks like

Excuse the rubbish in the bottom of the Spacesaver Greenhouse and it needs sorting but until I have made room elsewhere that's where its going to stay. 

The SoilFixer SF60 Spring Onion experiment appears to be holding it's own, and if I can get to a point where I have the existing greenhouse cleared on plot 1A and get the new greenhouse erected on Plot 1- I will relocate the experiment to one of the allotment greenhouse, until the last frost and then then it can live outside

The second level is currently holding a tray of everlasting onions sent to me by a fellow member of the Grow Your Own Grapevine Forum, and this year they appear to be holding their own. Last year they died for some reason and didn't live up to their name. The other tray is Catawissa Walking Onions as are all the onions on the third level down from the top.

The pad on the stick on the bottom shelf right hand side is supposed to be for use in a car but it's useful in helping me remove moisture that builds up on the inside of the greenhouse and it's door as access is obviously difficult.

The tin foil panels help reflect the light and help reduce the amount of lean that young seedlings and plants have trying to get to the light.      

Electric Fence for the Greenhouse ?

I was out tidying up the Space Saver greenhouse this morning at 7am and ended up moving the Catawissa Walking Onions down a level as some had just started to touch the trays on the shelf above them.

It looks as if I really need to get the greenhouse on Mill Green Allotment clear  and more importantly slug and snail free as I found one of each this morning on the Space Saver in the back garden.

I'm thinking of setting up an electric fence with copper wire and a 9v battery at the entrance to stop the blighters getting in there in the first place. 

Onion Update

Catawissa Walking Onions

SoilFixer SF60 Eiffel Spring Onion Experiment

It's All About Onions!

The day time & night time temperatures are on the decline, overnight temperatures in the greenhouse are 7degrees C with about 1 - 1.5 degrees lower outside the greenhouse, dew is on the cars, grass and about anything left out over night.

The only thing I have left in the greenhouse is the SF60 Over Wintering Spring Onion Experiment and the Catawissa Walking Onions 

 Catawissa Walking Onions looking right

They are growing really fast these were only sown eight days ago, and all leaning towards the front of the Space Saver Greenhouse, I will turn the trays 180 degrees once a week to try and straighten the onions up. 

 Catawissa Walking Onions looking right

The two trays on the left were sown seven days ago, and the largest of the bulbs can be seen on the wooden shelf, looking at the germination rates off the micro bulbs from the secondary clusters, I think I will be eating the larger bulbs rather than planting them, especially as I have some 120 in total. I could possibly do an SF60 trial with some of these bulbs I suppose, Ummm something to think about.

It look as if I may have some to share with other plot holders if they survive the overwintering process. I lost very few last year from the 18 bulbs I originally purchased.   

SoilFixer Experiment - Eiffel Spring Onions (SF60 used on the right)

It's very difficult to see any real difference at the moment, I try and rotate the pots so as to straighten the onions as they all want to lean in the direction of the sun. It's an attempt to try and straighten them if at all possible

Catawissa Walking Onions - More Sowing

I sowed the remainder of the onions in the left had container, 15 vending machine cups per module in another 3 trays so that's another 45 Catawissa Walking Onions making 120 sown and in the greenhouse ready to over winter. Had a couple of the larger ones with my lunch and they are very strong and tasty!

Sowing Catawissa Walking Onions.

I've sown 15 vending machine cups per module in 5 trays so that's 75 Catawissa Walking Onions.

I planted many the smaller ones in the left container that had already started to sprout and I still have not used them all

I'm going to sow the rest of them over the weekend.

I may just have to eat the larger one in the container on the right

Catawissa Walking Onions

Looked at the Catawissa Walking Onions today and some of the secondary clusters of mini bulbs are already sprouting so I have harvested the lot and will plant them in some vending machine cups and over winter like I did the original bulbs I purchased last year.

In addition to producing top-sets, the parent plant divides at the base producing an abundant supply of green scallions for salads, gazpacho and other soups or casseroles. When harvesting, always be sure to leave at least one onion in the ground so the plant will continue to multiply and keep you supplied with onions for a lifetime.

I pulled one onion station as they are still green and lush just to look and they have split and appear to have created another bulb but they have a massive root system, not quite sure how I'm going to get them out and manage to leave the one in the ground at each station?

Catawissa Walking Onions

A trip to drop off composting materials on plot 23B and I noticed that The Catawissa Walking Onions are doing really well now with a second level of onions appearing.

I had expected vertical stems but they appear to curl around and go wherever they like and I don't need to put a second layer of wind and fox protection up around them. 

Easter Friday 2017

As my wife is now out of hospital but still very unsteady on her feet, and having to bed rest, it means that I'm a little house bound myself. 

It has been dry for a few days, but looked like the possibility or rain, so I took the opportunity of cutting the grass.

Emma my eldest popped in to see her Mum for a while, so I managed a quick hours visit to Spencer Road Allotment to drop off the sack and a half of grass cuttings.Whilst on the plot, I also managed to water the potatoes and onions and to make some milk bottle soft bricks ready to hold down the potato membrane sheet on bed four.

Once home again, I watered everything in the greenhouse and potted up tomatoes from their vending machine cups into larger pots and transferred them from the brick shed grow station to the bottom of the space saver greenhouse which is filling quite nicely.

It always amazes me that for some reason they look larger once potted up into larger pots from the vending machine cups.

I now have enough self watering pop bottle propagators for this year ready, especially as It looks like the greenhouse on Spencer Road will not be erected in time to be useful for bringing on plants this year.

The Air Onions really need to get in the ground, but I still have to dig the area and construct the bed for them. The North Holland Red Spring Onions in the middle of the picture are doing really well. The everlasting onions right at the back of the photo didn't live up to their name they appear to have snuffed it !

Until my onions start flowing from the allotment I have been buying them, I know, I know it goes against the grain. But I have thought I will try a little experiment to see if the bottoms cut off with long healthy roots will grow again a little like the celery does.

At the moment the sprouts are looking very good the cabbages and cauliflowers are not doing as well and I think a re sowing is in order whilst we still have time.

Wyvale used to have a bin where you could put your old pots, however it appears to have gone missing in their recent revamp of the garden centre exit, which is a shame as I used to get my larger pots there, and I'm all for recycling these kind of things. God forbid I may have to buy some!

Little Gem Lettuces planted out into a flower bucket

March Sowing & Growing Update

Here are the Lobjoits Green and Little Gem lettuces that were sown on the 6th March and last photographed on the 17th March when I did My Seed Box - Lettuce Review. I'm not sure if I will bother with sowing any more Lobjoits Green in a hurry as the germination rate is poor especially at three seeds per station, and I have many more varieties in the box to play with.

I have sown another 12 modules of Little Gem today because we like them

12 Modules of Reine des Glaces at one seed per module because that was all the seeds I had of that type from a seed circle.

The Bettollo F1 Beetroots  sown on the 16th March are just showing in the Space Saver Greenhouse where as the ones sown on 24th March just four days ago in the LED Grow Station are already more developed than them. Makes me feel like adding another box and grow light panel to the Portable Grow Light Station.

The North Holland Blood Red Spring Onions are doing well sown on the 16th March in the LED Grow House 12 days ago and moved to the space saver greenhouse six days ago. The do want to lean towards the light/ front of the greenhouse, but I keep turning them every couple of days to try and correct the lean.    

The Sprouts and Cauliflowers are doing OK, but I think that they need to be moved out of the Space saver Greenhouse and into the cold frame especially if we start having sunny days and higher day time temperatures.

Not all the varieties of cabbage are doing as well as each other and some have turned up their toes and will need re sowing, or replacements found, I think the sun and heat in the last couple of days could have knocked them back, but the Pixie & Prmo 2 didn't look particularly strong to start with. 

The tomatoes are doing well in the brick grow house and do not look too purple stemmed, as the night time temperatures in there are better than the space saver greenhouse. The ones in the small modules need moving up to vending machine cups in the next couple of days. I was hoping to have lost a tray of spuds in the ground over the weekend just gone to give me some extra space in here, but it didn't happen 

The Air Onions really need moving into their final bed but that realistically is not going to happen until next weekend if the weather remains fine and allows.

I still have to cut the scaffold boards, cut some weed membrane, dig and weed the bed and surrounding area, construct the bed and line with the weed membrane, decant compost from the dalek to fill and then plant the onions that's a full days work going on how long it took for the other tree/ walking onion bed.