|
|
Post by paquebot on Jul 28, 2011 1:39:28 GMT -5
Pearl onions as we know them are not at all what the original ones were. Commonly growing onions from seed isn't all that old. I believe that the oldest named variety goes back only to 1894. Even in my early lifetime the onions grown in gardens were usually multipliers while an onion bought in a store was a potato onion. When one allium expert was told about what I had figured out, he said that those "wild" ones could not be pearl onions since they are grown from seed. If so, how could there be Deep South recipes for them 50 years before seed onions were developed? A woman in Mobile found quite a large patch of them on an old farm and sent a pound or so to me. They were better pearl onions than pearl onions! Only problem is that I could never even come close to obtaining the same size. Another woman found some in Texas which were definitely different and the same thing happened. Nice pearl onion bulbs in Texas but nothing bigger than a pea up here. Both went out of favor perhaps 100 or more years ago since they would be so difficult to properly plant and to harvest.
Martin
|
|
|
|
Post by mnjrutherford on Jul 28, 2011 12:09:49 GMT -5
That's fascinating. I appreciate you taking the time to address my questions. Sure does put me to thinking though...
1. I prolly won't be able to get pearl onions here either because we are just enough cooler here that they are not likely to do well.
2. I wonder if there are similar onion growing in Europe? If yes, where do they grow?
|
|
|
|
Post by paquebot on Jul 28, 2011 22:31:21 GMT -5
True pearl onions are still grown in some European gardens. Whichever type they are takes 2 years to mature size and that's about right for those found in the Deep South. They are in an allium group which also includes elephant garlic and leeks but not common onions. And since they are also their own little group, there would be various varieties within the group.
Martin
|
|
|
|
Post by Alan on Aug 12, 2011 12:35:51 GMT -5
Anybody have some topset types they would like to share? Once again (as was the case with my request for torpedo onions) I am attempting to up my allium diversity here on the farm. Also looking for multiple garlic varieties.
|
|
|
|
Post by paquebot on Aug 12, 2011 20:30:51 GMT -5
Anybody have some topset types they would like to share? Once again (as was the case with my request for torpedo onions) I am attempting to up my allium diversity here on the farm. Also looking for multiple garlic varieties. Keep an eye on your mail box. Martin |
|
|
|
Post by Alan on Aug 12, 2011 20:35:21 GMT -5
;D Much appreciated Martin!
|
|
|
|
Post by trixtrax on Aug 13, 2011 0:48:03 GMT -5
Alan, what are torpedo onions? Never heard of them, my imagination is viewing a large flowering topset that looks like a torpedo (hey, that's what imagination does)
|
|
|
|
Post by mnjrutherford on Aug 13, 2011 12:06:59 GMT -5
The bulb itself is elipsoid. The opposite, for example, of a cipollini which is flattened out. Speaking of which, I don't think I've ever seen that shape in a yellow or white onion?
|
|
|
|
Post by nicollas on Oct 30, 2013 13:12:39 GMT -5
I contacted someone to try to get Fleener topsetting and here is his answer
From another mail
Has anyone get the original one ?
|
|
|
|
Post by kazedwards on Jan 21, 2014 0:33:08 GMT -5
There are 2 listings of "fleener topset" on seed savers yearbook that I saw last week. I am hoping to get some this spring. I have also been looking for McCuller's white but have had no luck. I'm not sure if these are the real fleeners but I'll be happy either way. What are the differences?
|
|
|
|
Post by zeedman on Jan 21, 2014 22:09:46 GMT -5
Wow... no one is offering "McCullar's White" now? The same thing happened to "Fleener" several years ago... probably due to the temperamental hardiness referred to just above. Glad to hear it has (apparently) reappeared.
I grew "Fleener's" for two years, and was impressed by it. The topsets were unusual, pure white & flattened. Fall planted, these produced pure white bulbs about 1-1.5" wide the next year. I left them in the ground to strengthen, so I could get bulbil production to increase my stock. Unfortunately, rodents & a severe winter destroyed the entire planting, and the SSE source had since stopped listing. I too have been searching for it, and will send out a request after I have communicated with the SSE listers, to verify that what they offer is really "Fleener".
But I have to say, regardless of its apparent potential, "Fleener's" may not fit into my garden scheme. I am looking for perennial onions that will produce bulbs reliably in my climate. If it is no hardier than the larger potato onions (which are also temperamental in my climate) then unless I can store it indoors over winter (the comments above make that seem unlikely) it may be of no use to me. I wish I could have had the chance to taste the bulbs. :-(
Someone sent me some "McCullar's" in a trade several years ago. I didn't plant it in the best location (next to my garage) but regardless, I am not particularly impressed by it. The topsets are pure white, but normal in shape (for a topset) and rather small. It is definitely not the same as the "Fleener's" I grew. It is, however, much hardier; no losses, and it has been increasing steadily. I may have to transplant some to a better location, to better observe its true potential... all I have tried thus far is the scallions.
|
|
|
|
Post by kazedwards on Apr 2, 2014 1:39:02 GMT -5
On the McCuller's topset are the bulbs pure white as well as the topsets? I read in an article that McCuller's was a red onion but I could be wrong. Just curious. I also got an email today saying that my fleener's topsets are in the mail. Very excited!
|
|
|
|
Post by kazedwards on Apr 7, 2014 11:53:19 GMT -5
I just received the fleener's topset the I requested through SSE. I will plant them soon hopefully they are fleener's and not Moritz like the post above said. We can only wait and see.
|
|
|
|
Post by kazedwards on Apr 17, 2014 10:04:07 GMT -5
Zeedman would you be willing to send me a few topsets of your McCuller's white. I am willing to trade but I don't really have much to trade. I did just receive some Fleener's topset last week. The women sent me plants and set they should have topsets this year. I could do a few of those although it wouldn't be very many.
|
|
|
|
Post by kazedwards on Aug 2, 2014 13:23:42 GMT -5
Wow... no one is offering "McCullar's White" now? The same thing happened to "Fleener" several years ago... probably due to the temperamental hardiness referred to just above. Glad to hear it has (apparently) reappeared. I grew "Fleener's" for two years, and was impressed by it. The topsets were unusual, pure white & flattened. Fall planted, these produced pure white bulbs about 1-1.5" wide the next year. I left them in the ground to strengthen, so I could get bulbil production to increase my stock. Unfortunately, rodents & a severe winter destroyed the entire planting, and the SSE source had since stopped listing. I too have been searching for it, and will send out a request after I have communicated with the SSE listers, to verify that what they offer is really "Fleener". But I have to say, regardless of its apparent potential, "Fleener's" may not fit into my garden scheme. I am looking for perennial onions that will produce bulbs reliably in my climate. If it is no hardier than the larger potato onions (which are also temperamental in my climate) then unless I can store it indoors over winter (the comments above make that seem unlikely) it may be of no use to me. I wish I could have had the chance to taste the bulbs. :-( Someone sent me some "McCullar's" in a trade several years ago. I didn't plant it in the best location (next to my garage) but regardless, I am not particularly impressed by it. The topsets are pure white, but normal in shape (for a topset) and rather small. It is definitely not the same as the "Fleener's" I grew. It is, however, much hardier; no losses, and it has been increasing steadily. I may have to transplant some to a better location, to better observe its true potential... all I have tried thus far is the scallions. zeedman, these are a few pictures of my supposed "Fleener's". Can you (or anyone) tell me from the pictures if these are the real deal? If they are not are they McCullar's? I know that they have been mixed up in the past. There is a pretty good chance of it being one of the two. These are from today.  This shows the color of the bulb.  The next pictures are of when the topsets were forming.     What do you guys think? |
|
