Allium cepa.
Onions have been grown for centuries and are one of the oldest cultivated vegetables – for 5000 years or more. They remain just as popular today and are used in almost every type of cuisine from around the world. Onions belong in every garden whether large or small because they take up little space, are easy to grow and they have a long harvest period. Onions are very versatile as they come in many shapes and colours as well as strength of flavour. White onions are the strongest; yellow ones tend to be milder and sweeter; and red varieties are the mildest and sweetest of all.
Bunching onions are also known as scallions, green onions, or spring onions, can be used fresh for salads, mashed potatoes, and garnishes. Sweet onions can be used raw for hamburgers, or onion rings and yellow onions are perfect for just about any dish – grilled, sauteed, baked, roasted, or caramelized.
Onions are good companion plants for beets, Brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale, etc.), carrots (repels carrot rust fly), dill, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, strawberries, and tomatoes. Onions are not good with asparagus, or any type of peas.
| Nutrition | Low in calories - about 40 calories for 100 grams. Good source of Vitamin C and dietary fiber. |
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| Harvesting | Onions are ready to harvest when the leaves begin to yellow. Loosen the onion bulbs from the soil and lift them out. Curing is important to longer storage - spread the bulbs out in a sunny and dry location with good air circulation. |
| Storing | Store onions in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. Do not store onions with potatoes or other produce items that release moisture. |
Varieties Listing
Also known as green onions or scallions. Parade has bright white shanks with no bulbing and dark green tops. This Japanese-type of bunching onions is uniform, quick to harvest, and clean.
Cabernet is a globe-shaped, medium onion with a sweet, mild flavour. The pretty red, 3″ (8 cm) wide rings add a crunchy and slightly spicy flavour to burgers and salads. Excellent storability.
Candy is a globe shaped, large onion weighing 1 – 2 lbs (0.45 to 1 kg). This Spanish type of onion is sweet and mild in flavour so it’s perfect in salads, sandwiches, burgers and relishes. Touted to be high in antioxidants, this jumbo-sized bulb is a top choice for onion rings. Candy is early… Read more »
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