Wide selection of popular onion varieties

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33934, 29 August 1975, Page 4

Wide selection of popular onion varieties

Any good cook will readily testify to the invaluable attributes of the onion, flavoursome vegetable of so many uses.

Although they are grown predominantly for their bulbs which vary in size, much depending on the selection, culture and prevailing weather conditons, ; onions are also harvested in an immature state for genieral use in salads and for seasoning when they are; ; known as spring onions. ; | Good onion crops are not] [always obtained in the average garden and often there I is a general shortage or they become comparatively expensive to buy. There are a number of very suitable alternatives which can be grown not only as standbys but as good alternatives and one thing most of them have in common is that they generally are less difficult to grow satisfactorily. Chives are probably one of the most commonly grown onion-like alternatives but although an established plant can be lifted and used in its entirety the usual thing is to cut the abundant “grass” as the leaves are widely known as. It can be propagated by division of existing clumps and responds well to regular cutting.

this little plant can be used as a decorative border edging for it will eventually produce attractive rosy-

■ mauve coloured flowers atop i its fresh green needle like j leaves. Chinese chive I offers an interesting variation.. The leaves of this plant are without the hollow cen- ■ tres so typical of many of the rest of the genus. Chive can be planted at any time of the year. The shallot is another very popular and closer relative to the onion. Its development consists of division of its bulb or clove into a multitude of them. It is grown for its bulb but as with most members of the onion family the leaves can be utilised as well. Shallots are normally raised from small bulbs but can be grown from seed.

However, it is generally found that off-sets from plants raised in this way will tend to “bolt” if replanted. They can be planted at any time from late autumn until early spring but a quite effective’rule of thumb is to plant on the shortest day and harvest on the longest one.

Garlic . finds particular favour in certain European countries and although its pungent flavour may be overpowering the same cannot be said about its general popularity. This may be on account of its misuse for it must be handled with subtleness to be fully enjoyed. A single bulb may yield enough cloves for average requirements. A warm sunny position suits it best al-

I though pungency of flavour lis greatly improved with colder conditions. Good |drainage is most desirable. Planting can be done in ! August, about 50mm deep (with 75mm between cloves. Harvesting is carried out [when the foliage dies down,; land curing and storage fol-1 Hows much the same procedure as that used for onions POTATO ONION At one time the potato 1 onion was much grown and I considering its prolific! cropping habit it is surpris- 1 ing that it is not more in! evidence and use. It forms a small cluster of small bulbs,; about 50mm in diameter.' after it has developed its! leaves. This is a very tender! flavoured onion which can! be planted in winter.

The tree onion or Egyptian onion is of Canadian origin and provides an interesting looking plant as it matures. It develops a large bulb from which emantes one or more shoots. These produce small so called “cocktail” onions at intervals and on the tips which in time form clusters iff allowed to remain. Flowers are sometimes! borne as well as the onions and occasionally these will! 'develop alone. The onions! produced by this plant are quite strongly flavoured. Rocambole is also known! as sand leek. It is regarded as a mild substitute for garlic although its uses are much greater from consumption raw to pickling. The bulbs may attain a diameter of 30mm and the smaller ones can be left in

rhe ground after harvesting in late spring to early summer. New shoots will >oon appear and the bulbs u ' continue to increase in >iz< and produce more otf sets tor subsequent use JAPANESE ONION The Japanese bunching onion very much resembles chive but, unlike chive, it retains its green leavethroughout the year The leaves may be used as chives or the scallions (leaves and swollen stem bases) used as salad onions. It can he grown from bulbs or from seed which t ike about two vears to develop bulbs The so called Welsh onion which is actually of Siberian origin resembles the spring onion and is used in much the same way. As the older central portion tends to deteriorate harvesting should consist either eof pulling up entire clumps or lifting in sections.

Planting should be of sets containing from three to five bulbs and given a spacing of 30cm. This is a very hardy plant with a strong flavour. Many of the forms of onion ■ mentioned above will not be I readily obtainable and often ! the way to get hold of such ■ plants is through a friend I who can pass on a clove or la plant. The cultural attention of i these onions is not involved and they will produce well !in any average soil although they do respond to better conditions. Nitrogenous feeding must not be overdone, watering during the growing season is.desirable tapering off with approaching maturity, and weeds should be kept down at all times.