Zeedman
Garden Master
In permanent locations, I grow about a dozen perennial alliums of various species; Grolau chives (a Russian cultivar), Chinese chives, two bunching onions, two pearl onions, several walking onions, and two nesting onions. Some form bulbs, some do not. All but one have remained undisturbed for several years, to increase them to the point where I would have enough to share.
I'm happy to report that I will be able to share several of those this year. For those which form bulbs, I dug up a portion of each patch. Two of those show great potential:
Grandpa Achors. Small leaves, but that may be due to crowding. Divides rapidly from the base, and will form very small white topset bulbils as well. This looks nearly identical to another variety I grow (McCullar's), but with smaller topsets. When I divided some of the McCullar's & planted them in the Fall with my garlic, they formed clusters of 3-5 nice 1" onions the following year. I expect that Grandpa Achors will do at least as well.
Croation (Luk) also appears to have smaller foliage than most onions, somewhere between chives & scallions. It has neither flowered nor formed topset bulbils since I've grown it, but as you can see from the photo, it has divided very rapidly. I have yet to test it, but it too shows great potential for being a "perpetual onion", if a portion each year is divided & given space.
I also have seed for an heirloom bunching onion, which is either Franz or Stevenson... both look very similar, so I can't positively identify which. When multiple tillings failed to kill them, their tenacity impressed me enough that I transferred them to a permanent location, where they have flourished. It is extremely winter hardy, divides rapidly from the base, and has 1/2" stalks that are very similar in length & width to the larger walking onions.
As I review the stock available, I will be listing other perennial onions & related alliums as updates to this thread. Send me a PM if interested.
I'm happy to report that I will be able to share several of those this year. For those which form bulbs, I dug up a portion of each patch. Two of those show great potential:
Grandpa Achors. Small leaves, but that may be due to crowding. Divides rapidly from the base, and will form very small white topset bulbils as well. This looks nearly identical to another variety I grow (McCullar's), but with smaller topsets. When I divided some of the McCullar's & planted them in the Fall with my garlic, they formed clusters of 3-5 nice 1" onions the following year. I expect that Grandpa Achors will do at least as well.
Croation (Luk) also appears to have smaller foliage than most onions, somewhere between chives & scallions. It has neither flowered nor formed topset bulbils since I've grown it, but as you can see from the photo, it has divided very rapidly. I have yet to test it, but it too shows great potential for being a "perpetual onion", if a portion each year is divided & given space.
I also have seed for an heirloom bunching onion, which is either Franz or Stevenson... both look very similar, so I can't positively identify which. When multiple tillings failed to kill them, their tenacity impressed me enough that I transferred them to a permanent location, where they have flourished. It is extremely winter hardy, divides rapidly from the base, and has 1/2" stalks that are very similar in length & width to the larger walking onions.
As I review the stock available, I will be listing other perennial onions & related alliums as updates to this thread. Send me a PM if interested.