The Tree Onion
After planting, the small bulbs form large ones by the end of the year, but do not produce any bulblets until the following year. I received mine in March and was advised to plant them about July, which I did, although this is leading into our winter here in Australia, they grew well. The small bulblets on the stems formed in January the following year and they are ready to be harvested now.
You can start the plants using either top bulblets or the lower offsets. The lower offsets are used most often.
Tree onion plants are best grown as annuals. Best results will be obtained if started in the fall, but winter and spring plantings give average results.
When the bulbs are matured, you can preserve them in a cool place after they have been allowed to dry in the sun for a while.
They are usually flat and a brown colour. The bulblets are excellent for pickling and keep very well, though the large bulbs do not always keep very long.
Onions are used as a disinfectant. Many people hang up a string of Onions as a protection against an infectious disease, and it has constantly been observed that the Onions will take the disease while we remain immune to the infection. This reminds me of the garlic tablets I have taken in the past that you can buy from Health Food shops and supermarkets.
Another variety of the Tree Onion called the Catawissa Onion, or Perennial Tree Onion, was introduced from America thirty years ago. It is different from the Ordinary Tree Onion by the vigour of its growth and the haste with which the bulblets commence to grow without being detached from the top of the stem.
They barely attain full size before they produce stems, which also produce bulblets, and in favourable seasons this second tier of bulblets will emit green shoots and leaves reaching a height of up to over and 2 1/2 feet.
Only a small number of bulblets, generally two or three on each stem are prolific. The rest do not sprout in the first year and can be used for propagation. The plant is perennial, with long fibrous roots, and may be propagated by division in the same fashion as Chives. No offsets are produced underground. They are very hardy and easy to grow.
The Tree onion is sometimes referred to as walking onion,
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