Red Onions

[wollyanna]

Could I have the benefit of the grapes advice please on Red Onions.I am looking for a Red Onion that is good raw,sweet and not too strong. Grateful for any suggestions Thank you Valerie

[oldie]

I grew Electric from sets over winter and found them excellent in my salad lunch box.

[Snadger]

I grew Electric from sets over winter and found them excellent in my salad lunch box.

I would grow these but I've got nowhere to plug them in at the allotment!

[zazen999]

Are you looking for seeds or sets?

[smallblueplanet]

Long Red Florence is the best, and is exactly as you described. Easy to grow from seed.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Haven't got the knack of onions from seeds yet - but I grew 'electic' from sets overwinter, and they won second prize as part of the 'collection' at the Hill show.

[bobleponge]

I grew Electrics too, they grew well and I harvested almost all that went into the ground. Taste is quite sweet, great in red onion marmalade.
One thing I did find though, was that once cut open, the inner "bit" that was once attached to the stalk, was generally quite large and hollow, meaning that although it was a nice looking onion outside, I only got about two thirds of the onion that I thought I would get.
Havent explained that overly well I dont think, but hope you get what I meant.

Sorry SBP, I grew Long Red Florence last year and wasnt all that impressed.

[smallblueplanet]

No worries bob, its all about growing conditions and personal taste anyway. We've also grown red baron (I think it was) from sets and weren't impressed with them, but LRF were a nice mild onion that tasted good raw.

[bobleponge]

The LRF definitely grew ok, I grew them from sets, not seed.
Just wasnt overly enamoured with the taste, but cant complain on their productivity.

[smallblueplanet]

Thats what I was trying to say, taste is something quite personal, but they were a good 'raw' salad onion.

Thinking about it, Pigletwillie's Rose de Roscoff are a very productive, tasty red onion indeed.

(Edit) And I've remembered something I read whilst searching for info on 'sweet' onions - its to do with the soil type, which affects how much 'sulphur compounds' (pungency) the onions develop.

[Florence Fennel]

I tried Red Baron, but I was disappointed with the size (they were just a bit bigger than a pickling onion). However, having said that, I gave them to my daughter who roasted them whole and thought they were delicious. I will try again with reds, but I'm watching this thread with interest to get some good recommendations. Maybe I should try the LRF? (The clue's in the name).

[allotmentlady]

electrics and radar, i have just received my onion sets from T&M they had an offer on, also got some white overwintering ones, sooo excited lol

[zazen999]

Thinking about it, Pigletwillie's Rose de Roscoff are a very productive, tasty red onion indeed.

Rose de Roscoff and Rossa Di Milano - both from PW are my new fave onions. The shape of the Milanos are beautiful. That's why I was asking about sets or seed.....as I don't think you can get these as sets over here......

Like all veg though - it's all about YOUR taste buds; what works for one doesn't work for another...

[wollyanna]

Thanks everyone i don't mind sets or seeds ,just some to try,so definately like the sound of the last 2. Where do I get them from is it plant world.

[zazen999]

Thanks everyone i don't mind sets or seeds ,just some to try,so definately like the sound of the last 2. Where do I get them from is it plant world.

No, Piglet Willie is one of the Mods on here; but these are quite rare seeds; I am growing some for seed next year...you might have to do a bit of googling to find a uk supplier.