Potato onions bulbs just came.

[hoodat]

I ordered potato onion sets from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange in mid Summer. They came in the mail a couple of days ago. To tell the truth it was so long since I ordered them that I had forgotten about them. Lucky for me I just dug up a patch and put down some rabbit manure so I already have a place for them. Anyone have any tips about them to share?

 

[lesa]

Once again, I have learned something new from you, hoodat! I will be very interested to hear how these grow for you....Sounds like you have the perfect spot for them! Good luck!

 

[hoodat]

I've never grown them before but from what I gather they grow pretty much like shallots and I've had good success with those.

 

[vfem]

I'm thinking I'm going to go with shallots this year... I'm breaking up my garlic now and getting ready to plant those. I'm just behind on finishing up my beds.

I wish you luck!

 

[hoodat]

I like the taste of shallots but the main reason I grow them is their long storage capability.

 

[digitS']

Looking around the internet, Hoodat, I find that shallots & potato onions are both Allium cepa (Aggregatum group).

Perhaps, their culture and storage are very similar. Of course, I'm curious about them. Territorial Seed also sells potato onions.

Hoodat, did you save and plant your own shallot seed this year? If so, how did that turn out??

Steve

 

[hoodat]

Yes Steve I planted shallots from saved seed this year. They grew fine. The bulbs were mostly singles though. Big enough to use but smaller than those I get from planting split up clumps, which always give me around 4 for 1. I plan to replant them and hopefully they will grow as clumps next year.

 

[hoodat]

I got them into the ground today. The soil is still nice and warm so they should pop up before too long. They are recommended for fall planting in SoCal. That will make shallots and potato onions for storage and Egyptian onions for greens and pickling onions from the top sets. I took out my Welsh onions. They kept coming down with onion rust.

 

[Neko-Chan]

I just planted four potato onions. I have no idea if they'll be successful at all, so we'll see. I may have planted them at the wrong time.