Best Onions to grow for Pickling

[MagicLady]

I'm going to give onions a try, and although I do want some for cooking with, I fancy giving pickling a go. I tend to like small pickled onions, so could you advise me on what would be the best ones to grow, please.

TIA
Babs xxx

[shirlthegirl43]

Paris silverskin are the ones for small pickled onions. You sow them early next year for pickling about this time next year.

[solway cropper]

Lilia are a nice red onion and dual-purpose. You can pick them young like spring onions or leave them to develop bulbs and pickle the small ones. I've grown them in tubs with no problems.

[MagicLady]

Fab - thanks guys! I received my Marshalls catalogue today and they've got Silverskin seeds in there. Looks like I'm in for a busy 2010

[rustylady]

Paris silverskin are supposed to be good for pickling. I found a cell tray of red onions (Brunswick I think) that I'd forgotten to plant out. They were healthy, but very small, so I've pickled them.

[chriscross1966]

There's an italian pickler called Borettana that's good, Giant Zittau is worth tracking down too but to be honest, if you just sow a standard maincrop about 8 to a cell and plant the cells out at 3" spacings once they're up and running then you will get good "chipshop" picklers, any of Sturon, Aisla Craig, Rjinnsburger or Bedfordshire Champion will do you. Paris Silverskin might be the classic silverskin for sweet pickled cocktail onions but if you like something bigger pickled in brown vinegar then the others are better IMHO....

[ginger ninger]

Hi M.L,
I too have just received my "Marshalls Catalogue", I'm plumping for the "Giant Zittau", my neighbour grew them last year to pickle now, and they look nice onions, she's leaving some to grow into (as she say's) proper onions as well, so there a duel purpose.