The onion has been part of our vegetable growing culture for thousands of years and is the most common ingredient in the kitchen. That's why we can now rely on a tried and tested selection of varieties when it comes to planting material.
Which tried and tested onion varieties are there and how do I choose the right one?
When choosing the right type of onion, taste preference, effort in growing and storage life play a role. Well-known varieties are Stuttgarter Riesen, Rote Braunschweiger, Red Karmen, Golden Gourmet, Ailsa Craig, Winterhecke and Zittau Gelbe.
General
The onion (Allium cepa) belongs to the leek genus and is also available as a spring onion, vegetable onion or shallot. The types of onions differ in their level of spiciness, color and size. The shallots have a finer and sweeter taste than the onions. They are mainly suitable for seasoning dishes. The vegetable onions have a very mild spiciness, are juicy and ideal for eating raw. The onion has a strong taste and is suitable for frying and cooking.
Known varieties
- Stuttgart Giant, yellow, large, stores well and is suitable for growing onion sets
- Red Braunschweiger, not only the peel but also the flesh turns reddish as it ripens, sharper in taste than brown-skinned varieties
- Red Karmen, dark red, bolt resistant, medium early harvest, stores well
- Golden Gourmet, compact, digestible, mild in taste, resistant to fungal diseases
- Ailsa Craig, very large vegetable onion, slightly conical, yellow, record-breaking
- Winter hedge, white, small, absolutely hardy, is mainly grown for its spicy foliage
- Zittauer Yellow, firm tuber, fine-skinned, best shelf life, strong taste
Make the right choice
In specialist shops you can get every type of onion imaginable for relatively little money, either as seeds or as onion sets. With this variety, it is sometimes difficult to find the right variety for your garden. Basically, you should decide whether you prefer more or less onion flavor.
It is also important to consider how much time can be invested in rearing. Growing onions from seeds simply requires more effort than setting onion sets. In any case, when purchasing planting material, preference should be given to resistant, high-yielding and storable varieties.
Tips & Tricks
The Ailsa Craig giant onion is said to weigh up to 4 kg when sown early. Reason enough for an avid gardener to try for a record of his own.
