Onion varieties: New & tried and tested onion varieties

We show the best traditional and new onion varieties. These varieties differ mainly in colour, size and storage life.

The numerous onion varieties differ mainly in appearance, size, origin and harvest time. The onion is very rich in varieties. This was hardly surprising to botanists, since the onion has many related species and has been cultivated since time immemorial.

Spring onions (Allium x proliferum)

These almost unknown onions are something special. The onion, which probably originated in North America, once made its way to Germany via France. Aerial bulbs do not form seed pods at the end of the rather long stem, where the inflorescence develops in conventional bulbs. This species forms small, reddish bulbs. After these are formed and the first roots emerge, the shoot withers again. the

air onions go to the ground and take root. This process begins anew every year.

This type of onion is very popular among gourmets. The taste is very aromatic and has a fine texture. Ideal for salads and for filling rolls or other dishes.

(synonyms: Egyptian onion, tree onion or walking onions)

vegetable onion

While the vegetable onion is not a classic, botanically specific type of onion, it is a common collective term for larger and milder onions. Vegetable onions are easy to use in the kitchen. Compared to shallots, significantly less labor is required.

Big onion varieties:

• The Kelsae: Variety from England with very mild and quite large onions (>800g); the official record is over 6kg onions!
• Alisa Craig: also from England with mild and large onions (>700g)
• Exhibition: aromatic taste and lush onions (>1000g); under good growing conditions, onions weighing up to 1.6 kg can also be harvested.

Yellow onion varieties:

• Zittau yellow: Proven and popular onion variety; roundish, firm onions with a good shelf life; robust with good aroma.
• Borettana: Traditional Italian variety with a flat, rounded shape; particularly mild and sweet taste; excellent for salads and for grilling.
• Tamara (F1): Modern breed with large, lush bulbs; high yields and good aroma; often found in commercial cultivation.
• Texas Early: This onion variety is a medium to late ripening variety; larger onions with good aroma.
• Sturon: modern variety; very productive and very good storage properties.
• Echo (F1): Modern F1 hybrid with round bulbs; very high yield and very good storability.
• Dorata DiBologna: Large, rounded onions; good to store.
• Stuttgart giants: very old and proven traditional variety from the area around Stuttgart; lush, flat-topped onions; good storage ability.

White onion varieties:

• Tonda Musona: Large, round onions; tasteful and easy to store.
• snow ball: Mild taste, high sugar content; early ripe and conditionally storable.
• Albion (F1): Mild, tasty and round onion variety; high yields and easy to store for a few weeks.

Red onion varieties:

• Rossa di Tuscany: Traditional variety from Italy with a good taste; round shape and easy to store.
• Red Park (F1): New variety with lush, round bulbs; very high yields and good aroma; very often planted in commercial cultivation.
• Di Genova: early-ripening onion variety; flat round and large; very mild and delicate; not good storage capacity.
• carmen: Flat-round onions with a subtle spiciness; high quality and limited shelf life.
• Tropea Rossa Lunga: Oval to oblong variety from Italy; very delicate in texture and mild in taste; excellent variety for fresh use; extremely popular among onion lovers.
• Brunswick dark blood red: Probably the most well-known and well-established traditional variety of all; firm, flat-round onions and good storability.

Shallots Allium cepa var. ascalonicum

Old and proven type of onion, the origin of which is believed to be in the city of Askelon (see synonyms) in Israel. The shallot, also known as the noble onion, is referred to by gourmets, star chefs and gourmets as the queen of onions. Shallots are quite small, but the taste is particularly aromatic. This type of onion ripens early and has a good shelf life.

• Elista: good aroma and easy to store; light brown shell.
• Yellow Moon: plump shallots with yellowish skin; quite large soundlots.
• Longor: Traditional variety from France with elongated onions; very mild and good aroma.
• Bistro: tasty variety with an excellent aroma; rounded with a reddish-brown skin.
• hermione: white skin, rounded shallot with a very good aroma and a long shelf life.

(synonyms: noble onion, e-tube, ascalon onion)

Winter hedge/spring onion (Allium fistulosum)

• De Vaugirard: Snow-white spring onion with lush, flat-topped bulbs; rapidly growing.
• Blanca de Lisboa: Traditional variety with small, elongated and snow-white bulbs. (Syn: white people from Lisbon)
• freddy: Extremely hardy with good yields; the shaft end is only slightly thickened.
• Spring Performer: Well-growing spring onion with a good and mild taste; Shaft end slightly thicker.
• winter hedge: Often a name for the wild species Allium fistulosum. Delicate shafts with slight thickening at the end of the shaft.
• Negaro: Very fast-growing variety, with a white stem and good aroma; typical spring onion.
• Pal: Rapidly growing spring onion, the stem begins to branch early; Shaft end is hardly thickened.
• long whites: Fast-growing variety with a long stem; hardly thickened; productive and aromatic.
• La Reine: Leek onion with a luxuriant formation of bulbs at the end of the shank; not a hardy variety; good for pickling.
• Feast (F1): American cultivar with very dark green leaves and a white stem end (hardly any thickening can be seen); robust against downy mildew.
• Red toga: Beautiful spring onion with pinkish-pink shank ends; fast-growing and high-yielding.

(Synonyms: spring onion, spring onion, spring onion, spring onion, winter onion, coarse chives)

Pearl onion (Allium ampelorasum) / silver onion (Allium cepa)

The small, typical pearl onions that used to grow in grandma and grandpa's garden no longer exist. The reason: the pearl onions are a variety of field leeks, which are related to the onion and are no longer used for commercial reasons. That's why the tasty little, pickled white onions are no longer made from pearl onions, but from silver onions. The following are three silver onion varieties:

• Da Barletta: early variety with smaller, rather firm bulbs; very tasty and good to use for pickling.
• Pompeii: small aromatic silver onion; very mild with similar uses as spring onions.
• White Queen: extremely tasty and mild onion; perfect for inserting.

Once you've decided on one of the numerous types of onions, it's time to get started stick onions. In our special article you will find out how best to proceed.