A cross between Allium cepa, the cultivated onion, and Allium fistulosum, the Welsh onion. It gets its common name from the way it “walks” across the garden. Instead of flowers, this plant produces topsets, a cluster of bulbils, at the top of the stalk where the flowers and seeds would normally be. The stalks eventually flop over from the weight of the bulbils (if not harvested) and replant themselves, thus beginning their “walk” across the ground. Harvest greens in spring and fall to use like chives. Use onion bulbs much like you would use pearl onions. 125-250 days from transplant. Photo courtesy of Southern Exposure Seed Exchange.
Care: Plant 6-8″ apart in rows 12-18″ apart in full sun. May need staking. Leave some unharvested bulbils to fall over and root themselves, for a new crop next year.
Egyptian Walking Onion (Allium x proliferum)
Description
A cross between Allium cepa, the cultivated onion, and Allium fistulosum, the Welsh onion. It gets its common name from the way it “walks” across the garden. Instead of flowers, this plant produces topsets, a cluster of bulbils, at the top of the stalk where the flowers and seeds would normally be. The stalks eventually flop over from the weight of the bulbils (if not harvested) and replant themselves, thus beginning their “walk” across the ground. Harvest greens in spring and fall to use like chives. Use onion bulbs much like you would use pearl onions. 125-250 days from transplant. Photo courtesy of Southern Exposure Seed Exchange.
Care: Plant 6-8″ apart in rows 12-18″ apart in full sun. May need staking. Leave some unharvested bulbils to fall over and root themselves, for a new crop next year.
