Onions for pickling

[sternyboy]

I'd like to grow some onions to pickle.
Is it too late now to sow some seeds and what are the best onions for pickling?

I want some nice crunchy ones that can give a bit of a kick

[chriscross1966]

You'll be fine sowing something like paris silverskin or Brown Zittau or one of the italian ones like Boretana.... I'll be putting in more in th enext couple of weeks..... they should just race away though you'll want to get a decently rich soil for them.....

If you need a kcik just add chilis though not Habaneros or any of the Jolokias or Nagas.... I used Habanero once in a bottle of pickled onions and they were lethal.....

chrisc

[sternyboy]

they should just race away though you'll want to get a decently rich soil for them.....

Cool, cheers for the reply What do I need to richen up my soil? It was full of stingers and brambles this time last year and have been told that makes really good soil but I wouldn't know how/why.

I used Habanero once in a bottle of pickled onions and they were lethal.....

chrisc

I like the sound of that, could be funny to stick them out at a party or BBQ to see peoples reactions lol (with a warning sign though!!!)

[Spiderling]

Hi Sternyboy. We grow Shallots Golden Gourmet for pickling and the result is very good. Cheers.

[rana]

I support Spiderlings choice of Golden Gourmet shallots, which once pickled retain their crispness for at least a year, however it is a tad late to put them in for this year. The sets are best planted in late winter/early spring.

[SarzWix]

Lots of the seed companies sell the Brown Pickling Onion seeds, and quite a few do the Paris Silverskin too. I got mine from Suttons, but haven't managed to sow them yet, so I hope there's time
To enrich your soil, you could work in some compost, or some very well rotted manure. But if you don't have any, don't worry, they'll still do ok on in ordinary soil

[sternyboy]

I got some golden gourmet sets today as they were reduced to 50p, I know why now they're in the ground so though so shall I just leave them?

I also put in some Shallot toppers and some yellow moon.

As for the chilli's I got a Nasu Chilli Pepper and 4 Chilli Pepper (doasn't say what type on the tag, but does say, can be very hot if seeds are left in)

[rana]

About 2 years ago I got a bag of shallot sets during the summer for 10p. A bit of a risk but I just kept them in the salad tray at the bottom of the fridge until the following spring when they were planted out. I had to chuck a few away but the remaining bulbs performed as normal. (and I thought sets were heat treated...........)

[Two_Sheds]

Cool, cheers for the reply What do I need to richen up my soil? It was full of stingers ....last year and have been told that makes really good soil but I wouldn't know how/why.

Stinging nettles indicate that your soil is rich in nitrogen. Nitrogen is good for green leafy growth (brassicas, lettuce etc).

[sternyboy]

Stinging nettles indicate that your soil is rich in nitrogen. Nitrogen is good for green leafy growth (brassicas, lettuce etc).

Could that be why my peas are not doing that well? I know you shouldn't plant beans/peas in the same plot two years running due to the nitrates in the soil, I think

[baggyman]

The old boy in thenext plot to me puts his beans in the same place every year with excellent results.
Too late to grow from seed now but you can still put shallotts in.....plenty of time for them yet, mine are only just coming up.