Walking Onions

[akroberts]

I got some from someone on BYC. I planted them and gave some to my mom for her garden. I will enjoy knowing that I will have fresh and dried onions for me

 

[ducks4you]

JUST when I broke the (seed money) bank on seeds late 2023, NOW I want something ELSE!!!

 

[Moon888]

I was cleaning my unheated patio, and found a bag of walking onion bulbils DW had harvested last year. They have begun to sprout, and are amazingly healthy, given that they were harvested 8-9 months ago.

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These are the full grown scallions as of today; they are exceptionally hardy, and begin to reach harvest size about the time tulips bloom. They reach this size the 2nd-3rd year, and multiply gradually... or quickly, if the bulbils are allowed to grow every year. I hate to see my DW's labor go to waste, so if anyone here is interested in growing these, I'd be happy to send some... just PM your address. They will need to be planted promptly, ideally in a location where they will be undisturbed. These have been in the same permanent location since 1997, with little care other than occasional watering when dry.

Are "walking" onions, sprouting onions?

 

[ducks4you]

How to Plant and Grow Egyptian Walking Onions | Gardener’s Path

Egyptian walking onions are easy to grow and produce tasty underground bulbs as well as topsets. Learn how to grow these unique alliums now on Gardener's Path.

gardenerspath.com

 

[Zeedman]

Are "walking" onions, sprouting onions?

Not per se. They are perennial onions, grown primarily for use as scallions. They form only small (but very pungent!) bulbs at the base, which divide every year. The "flower" stalks form clusters of small bulbils, which will root when the stalks fall over... hence, 'walking'. Those bulbils will survive over Winter even if frozen; large ones can be sprouted indoors over the Winter, for fresh chive-like scallions. A worthy addition to the garden; the scallions literally begin to grow during the Spring thaw, and are by far the first fresh vegetable of the year.