Sweet Onions from seed

[rary]

Several years ago one of the supermarkets were bringing out a British grown sweet onion, did this ever happen or last any time, also can you grow any type of onion and make them sweet by altering the soil conditions, and if so how

[spamvindaloo]

Somebody on here mentioned earlier this year about growing walla walla onions. They sound quite nice - Walla Walla Sweet Onions - Home - although the link is obviously referring to growing them in a very different climate. The seeds do seem to be sold for growing in this country though so I did think of having a go myself.

This thread mentions growing Kelsae as a sweet onion http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ons_27342.html

[Thelma Sanders]

As well as the variety, the potash content of the soil effects the taste

The onion’s famous potency is due to the sulphur content as well as how you grow your onions such as the type of soil you have, what hummus you incorporate, water content, weather conditions, and the type of feed or fertilizers you use.

Like all plants, onions need potash; the more potash they have available the less sulphur they absorb. Using low potash fertilisers will result in smaller, but stronger tasting onions

T&M sell Supasweet seeds
http://search.thompson-morgan.com/se...0Onion%20Seeds

[Guest]

Following on from Spams second link http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...-onions-3.html premier seeds on flea-bay do 'white sweet spanish' seeds but I am yet to try them.

Borettane or cippolini onions are a small flat onion but not as sweet as shallots and I have grown them from seed for the last few years with no probs.

What were you after in regards to finished result? i.e your sarny, salads, pickles etc.

[rary]

I was looking for salad and suitable for sandwich, but I do remember when I was a boy and working in the local steelworks men bringing in onions from about May and you could eat them like apples. They could have come from the Frech onion sellers who came round with stings of onions on their bikes, but if I remember correctly they didn't come round till the end of June or July plus there were lots of them for most of the men ate an onion every day

[Guest]

^^^Is your 19th Oct like everyone elses 1st April? However you did say it was only the blokes that ate them as I am guessing the women had more sense

I def. don't know any onions that sweet.

[Thelma Sanders]

^^^Is your 19th Oct like everyone elses 1st April? However you did say it was only the blokes that ate them as I am guessing the women had more sense

I def. don't know any onions that sweet.

2 old boys at the firm where I used to work, had a raw onion and a cheese sandwich everyday for lunch - dunno why - they just did.
Have to be the old cloth cap types to do so, I think
(no offence meant to anyone that still wears one )

[rary]

It was reckoned that if you ate an onion every day you wouldn't catch the cold and in those days if you were off work ill you didn't get a penny for, if I remember correctly, the first six days, so a great insensitive to try and keep healthy

[Cadalot]

I use to have a cheese and slice of raw onion roll for my lunch from the café when I first started work

[vixylix]

why not grow shallots Rary? I love banana shallots because they're sweet - not that I'd eat one like an apple!

[rary]

I know it may seem a bit much to think that folk would eat a raw onion, yet on the TV three or four weeks ago there was a program featuring food in America and someone was eating one of those very hot peppers raw, so if folk can do that an onion would be no bother, and no it wasn't April the 1s?t.

[Small pumpkin]

My Nan used to eat raw onions! But then she use to eat the lemon slice when she'd finished her G & T.

There's lots of videos on the interweb of those nutters eating super hot chilli's. Some are very entertaining ( if you like watching self inflicted suffering ).

[Thelma Sanders]

Yes, Long Red Florence (banana shallot shaped) are nice and sweet for eating raw and lots of places sell the seeds cheap
Onion Long Red Florence - Moreveg

[veggiechicken]

This is NOT one of my Challenges!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4tWcGc6jJk

Sorry about the music

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

I love raw Onions! Much to my OH's annoyance! .................

But wouldn't go rubbing them on my eye's! What an "Idiot"