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"Potato (multiplier) onions". If this type of onion is unfamiliar to you try a Google… or go to
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...nyA/edit?pli=1
where a particular U.S. enthusiast writes at considerable length on the subject.
But interesting….. Briefly “potato onions” grow like shallots – plant one and get several – and are said to be useful for home growers (usable as standard onions and keep well), they have only fallen out of favour because evidently not suitable for industrial type farming/harvesting.
The reason I’m writing about them here is that having grown them for several years (keeping some back each year to start again the following year) I forgot to sow them this year and have just discovered a few from last year in the shed…. – duh! They are still mainly dormant, a couple sprouting, but I don’t think any of them will last unaided until next Spring….. There’s always a debate whether you should plant them in the autumn to overwinter or, like standard onion sets, in the Spring. Being in a coldish winter area (north Midlands) I usually plant them in the Spring but having forgotten them this Spring I’m a bit stuck…. What to do? I’ve decided to try an experiment and plant some in deep trays but give them the protection of a cold greenhouse over winter and put the remainder in the salad drawer of the fridge and see if they’ll last until next March/April (6/7 months) when I’ll plant them out as normal….. Might that work? Like all onions they’re usually biennials, these ones in the fridge are about to be triennials!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...nyA/edit?pli=1
where a particular U.S. enthusiast writes at considerable length on the subject.
But interesting….. Briefly “potato onions” grow like shallots – plant one and get several – and are said to be useful for home growers (usable as standard onions and keep well), they have only fallen out of favour because evidently not suitable for industrial type farming/harvesting.
The reason I’m writing about them here is that having grown them for several years (keeping some back each year to start again the following year) I forgot to sow them this year and have just discovered a few from last year in the shed…. – duh! They are still mainly dormant, a couple sprouting, but I don’t think any of them will last unaided until next Spring….. There’s always a debate whether you should plant them in the autumn to overwinter or, like standard onion sets, in the Spring. Being in a coldish winter area (north Midlands) I usually plant them in the Spring but having forgotten them this Spring I’m a bit stuck…. What to do? I’ve decided to try an experiment and plant some in deep trays but give them the protection of a cold greenhouse over winter and put the remainder in the salad drawer of the fridge and see if they’ll last until next March/April (6/7 months) when I’ll plant them out as normal….. Might that work? Like all onions they’re usually biennials, these ones in the fridge are about to be triennials!
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