Egyptian Walking Onion

Allium proliferum are extremely easy to grow.  Egyptian Walking Onions are extremely hardy plants. They have endured harsh winters with temperatures plummeting down to -24° below zero! Hence the name, "Winter Onion." They grow well in zones 3-9.
One of the first plants to emerge in spring the leaves of Egyptian Walking Onions poke through the soil and will grow up to 3 feet in height.  The leaves are round and hollow.  At the top of the plant, a cluster of "bulblets" will begin to grow, known as "bulbils" or "sets", every plant will produce a cluster.  Early spring will show its "bulbils" encased in a papery covering.  As they grow, this covering will tear open and fall off.  In late summer the "bulbils" will reach maturity. At this stage the "bulbils" look like mini versions of their parent.  When the "bulbils" become too heavy they will pull the plant over and the fallen bulbils will take root and grow into new plants.
This process is repeated over and over and is how the plant got its name "Walking Onion".  They literally walk across the garden!
Occasionally this onion will produce miniature flowers among its bulbils.  These flowers are about 1/4"wide, have 6 white petals and 6 stamens. Each petal has a vertical pea-green stripe.  Most flowers dry up as the bulbils compete for energy making it rare to find a viable seed.
Clusters of bulbils can have as few as 2 , or as many as 30 onions.  On occasion a new leaf stalk will grow from a cluster of bulbils, looking like a branch, producing another cluster.  This is where the name "Tree Onion" comes from.

Once the bulbils root and start to grow in the ground they produce shallot-like onions which can be harvested.  These will not grow back.  If these are left in the ground the above process will repeat itself year after year.

Egyptian Walking Onion

During their first year they will not produce "bulbils". You might see only greens. 

During their second year they will produce "bulbils".

You can snip off a few early chive-like leaves, leaving the rest to grow on into spring onions. Pinch some off to enjoy in April and May – the rest will grow taller and begin to develop bulbils on the end of the leaves.
Once established, plants may be propagated by division or by planting the sets that grow from the top.

Planting in the spring: Sets will grow throughout the spring and summer and develop tall green leaves and bulb/root growth in the ground. Since it is the plant's first growing season, it will probably not produce "bulbils".

Planting in the summer: Sets planted at this time will grow roots and leafstalks, and have some onion bulb development in the ground, but they will not produce "bulbils".

Planting in the fall: This is the optimum time to plant sets. Sets planted at this time will grow roots and leafstalks only. The leafstalk will die back for the winter.  The set will develop into a small onion bulb in the ground and store enough energy to carry itself through the winter. A leafstalk will reemerge in the spring and the plant will grow throughout the spring and summer to maturity.

Planting in the winter: You can plant sets in the winter as long as the soil is not frozen. If you can dig a 2" deep hole in the soil, then you can plant your sets. The sets will not grow much at all - maybe a little bit of root growth only. 

Harvesting the 'Bulbils': In mid to late summer and autumn the top-sets may be harvested. The optimal time to pluck off the bulbils is when the leafstalk has dried and turned brown. More than likely, it has fallen over by this time. Be sure to remove any bulbils that have fallen to the ground if you do not want them to self-sow in their new locations. Despite their name, these plants are very easy to control and keep from spreading just by harvesting the top-sets. You can eat, plant, or store the bulbils.

Harvesting the greens: The greens (leaves) may be cut and harvested at any time of the year. Just harvest one or two leaves from each plant. Be careful not to cut the stalk that has the bulbils. Soon after you have harvested the leaves from the plant, new leaves will start to grow in their place which can be harvested again.

Harvesting the onion bulbs in the ground: The onions at the base of the plant that are growing in the ground can be harvested in late summer and fall. Be sure to leave some onions in the ground for next year's crop. The bulb is about the same size and shape as a shallot. Bigger bulbs may be obtained by cutting off the bulbils before they develop. That way the plant can put its energy into the onion bulb in the ground instead of into the bulbils. 

Note: if you harvest the onion bulb in the ground, you will destroy the plant - it will not grow back next year. So, if you want to eat the onion bulbs in the ground, make sure to replace them by planting topsets, or offsets from the bulb.

Eating your Walking Onions

The onions taste just like a regular onion, only with a bit more pizzazz! The entire plant can be eaten. Small onions form at the base in the soil. They can be eaten and prepared just like any other onion. The hollow greens may be chopped to eat like chives or green onions. They are excellent when fried, cooked in soups, or raw in salads (my favorite). The bulblets that grow from the top are excellent when peeled and fried or you can pickle them, or pop them in your mouth, they're a little spicy!

Herb garden growing in drawers recycled from the garbage.

Rhubarb is just emerging from the soil. This is Canadian Red and should be quite large this year. We should be able to pick at least 3/4 of the plant this year.




A few things blooming in my home garden.

High Temperature:
Actual: 3°C mostly cloudy Wind E16km/h P.O.P.11%
Average: 13°C
Record: 30°C in 1985

Low Temperature:
Actual: -7°C cloudy rain 1.3mm Wind ESE17km/h P.O.P.50%
Average: 2°C
Record: -5°C in 1986

Spring in the herb garden. We are always looking for perennial/annual herbs to add to our collection.....


High Temperature:
Actual: 12°C partly sunny Wind SE14km/h P.O.P.4%
Average: 19°C
Record: 34°C in 1962

Low Temperature:
Actual: 4°C partly cloudy Wind N8km/h P.O.P.2%
Average: 7°C
Record: -1°C in 1981

Parsley Botanical name: Petroselinum crispum
Parsley is from the dill family, is an additive for soups(lessens the need for salt), sauces and salads. It makes an excellent garnish and is rich in iron, Vitamin
A and C.

Sun exposure: Full Sun, Part Sun
Soil type: Loamy

Planting

Start seeds in individual pots indoors 10 to 12 weeks before the last spring frost (May 9). Plant the seeds 3 to 4 weeks before the last spring frost because parsley is a slow starter. (The plants can handle the cold weather.) It can take up to 3 weeks for the plants to sprout.
Plant the seeds in moist, rich soil about 6 to 8 inches apart. For thinner plants, plant about 6 to 10 inches apart.
To ensure the best growth, the soil should be around 70ºF.
Plant parsley near asparagus, corn, and tomatoes in your garden.

Care

Be sure to water the seeds often while they germinate so that they don't dry out.
Throughout the summer, be sure to water the plants evenly.

Pests

Stem rot
Leaf spots
Black swallowtail larvae
Carrot fly and celery fly larvae

Harvest/Storage

Cut leaves from the outer portions of the plant whenever you need them.
One method of storing the parsley fresh is to put the leaf stalks in water and keep them in the refrigerator.
Another method of storage is drying the parsley. Cut the parsley at the base and hang it in a well-ventilated, shady, and warm place. Once it's completely dry, crumble it up and store it in an airtight container.
If you want fresh parsley throughout the winter, replant a parsley plant in a pot and keep it in a sunny window.

Recommended Varieties

Flat-leaf varieties in cooking because they have better flavor and are easier to work with than curly-leaf parsley
Curly-leaf varieties when you want a pretty garnish

Add a parsley infusion to bathwater to soothe and cleanse

Information from: The Old Farmers Almanac www.almanac.com


High Temperature:
Actual: -3°C cloudy flurries trace amt Wind NNW25km/h P.O.P.45%
Average: 1°C
Record: 11°C in 1954

Low Temperature:
Actual: -6°C mostly cloudy Wind NNW27km/h P.O.P.31%
Average: -8°C
Record: -23°C in 1938

Linda picked me up for 9am. We headed off to PTG ready for some heavy weed pulling. I managed to pick up a few Lavendula augustifolia plants and these were added to the herb garden. Weeded the peony beds and headed off to weed in Block A. We packed it in around 12:30pm. Chuck arrived right behind Linda and I and we worked in the same area. Alan and John arrived and started weeding and cleaning up in Block A at the other end. Moeen arrived a little after Alan and John and started weeding the first row in Block A. What a difference a few hours can make.

After we packed it in I drove over and picked up a bucket of compost. Moeen was cleaning up some of his veggie patch and I stopped to help him tie up the peas. He sent me on my way with a nice handful for dinner. After I left Moeen I stopped off at the Wedding Garden to see how it was fairing. Found a few weeds and pulled them as the clouds started to roll in and then the thunder. Definately time to head home.

High Temperature:
Actual: 20°C partly sunny rain 27.90mm Wind WSW12km/h P.O.P.10%
Average: 26°C
Record: 36°C in 1944

Low Temperature:
Actual: 10°C mainly clear Wind NNW14km/h P.O.P.0%
Average: 14°C
Record: 7°C in 1965

Spent the entire morning at PTG,9am to 1pm. Working on the mint bed. Finished putting a border around the mint and then started clearing the weeds and mint from the chives.



When I finished that I started clearing weeds and adding some mulch to the path.

High Temperature:
Actual: 18°C sun and cloud rain 8mm Wind W16km/h P.O.P.50%
Average: 26°C
Record: 35°C in 1999

Low Temperature:
Actual: 11°C mostly cloudy Wind SW8km/h P.O.P.24%
Average: 15°C
Record: 9°C in 1985

Linda picked me up and we headed off to PTG this AM. Arrived at 9:30am and left at 11:30am. After dropping off some pots, and some 4ft lighting fixtures, Linda had brought up, I headed over to Block B and started weeding the herb garden and peony beds. After watering said beds I started weeding the mint bed and started removing more mint to set up a barrier. After partially setting this up and cleaning up the weeds it was time to go. In Block D, John and Alan worked on more caging for the tomatoes, Chuck had arrived just ahead of us and Linda and Chuck set off to pick beetles from the potato plants. Moeen showed up a little later watering in Block C.

High Temperature:
Actual: 18°C mostly cloudy showers 4.60mm Wind E12km/h P.O.P.22%
Average: 27°C
Record: 36°C in 1955

Low Temperature:
Actual: 8°C mainly cloudy Wind N9km/h P.O.P.40%
Average: 15°C
Record: 6°C in 1965

Went to PTG at 9 and stayed until 12:10.
Had a hard time getting into the nursery today. The lock was put together wrong and our lock was not part of it. Called Alan to let him know.
Picked more weeds in block b and added a few more herbs into the herb bed. Went into the wedding garden and removed 3/4 of the weeds in one of the shrub beds. Left weed piles all around the bed. Told Alan that the shrub beds needed mulch. Alan will have to come up this afternoon and remove the weeds because I can't get into the nursery to dump them into the compost. Phyllis was working on the wedding garden removing weeds and mulching as she went. For those who don't know, Phyllis maintains the 4 primary beds along the walkway. She can always use help, weeding, planting, mulching, maintaining.

High Temperature:
Actual: 16°C mainly sunny Wind W11km/h P.O.P.0%
Average: 26°C
Record: 36°C in 1955

Low Temperature:
Actual: 7°C partly cloudy Wind NNW12km/h P.O.P.0%
Average: 14°C
Record: 5°C in 1968

One of the many things stressed during the classes was that you would never look at garbage in quite the same way. A perfect example here is a neighbour had thrown out some old dresser drawers (no dresser). Each drawer was compartmentalized. I thought as I drove by what a shame they seemed in pretty good shape. I got half way down the block and it hit me. What a great concept for a tiered herb garden. Turned around and 1 hour later they were here at PTG.



Each compartment has been planted out with an array herbs. Origanum majorana, Perennial Satureja, Tanacetum parthenium, basil, parsely.
As I find them I will add thyme, Melissa officinalis, lavender and violet.

Was at PTG from 9:30 to 12:40pm. Removed weeds from bed beside herb bed. Planted several herbs leftover in flats and a few pepper plants. Trimmed lovage and collected some leaves to add to tonights dinner salad. Lovage tastes like celery.

High Temperature:
Actual: 14°C mostly cloudy Wind NNW14km/h P.O.P.58%
Average: 25°C
Record: 35°C in 2002

Low Temperature:
Actual: 9°C mostly cloudy .50mm Wind NW11km/h P.O.P.39%
Average: 13°C
Record: 6°C in 1945

Spent a couple of hours pulling weeds and moving plants. Cleaned out one of the raised beds and moved common sage into the herb garden. Pulled all weeds from peony beds and moved two peonies from my bed to peony bed. Planted two Canada red Rhubarb in my bed and pulled weeds from iris bed and my bed added some mulch. It started to spit and the sky opened up and it poured. Packed it in and headed home. 12:20pm

High Temperature:
Actual: 15°C mostly cloudy showers Wind WSW14km/h P.O.P.50%
Average: 25°C
Record: 35°C in 1964

Low Temperature:
Actual: 9°C cloudy with showers 16.50mm Wind N9km/h P.O.P.40%
Average: 13°C
Record: 8°C in 1943

Spent a couple of hours with Linda in Block B removing unruly mint from the paths. Started creeping into the beds on either side of it. We removed all from the path and some from the bed itself. By noon we had sweat dripping from our noses and packed it in. We will dig a trench and put in a barrier to help control the mint on our next visit.




High Temperature:
Actual: 19°C sunny Wind SE11km/h P.O.P.11%
Average: 24°C
Record: 33°C in 1998
Low Temperature:
Actual: 11°C mainly clear Wind N9km/h P.O.P.0%
Average: 13°C
Record: 4°C in 1940

Was at the gardens from 9 to 12
Did some housekeeping, moving metal rods, rebar, wood and general stuff to tidy up around the supply shed. Alan used the weed whipper and cut down the giant weeds. Everything is looking a little more presentable now. After the tidy up I proceeded to Block B and planted some found chives, and egyptian onion into what will be the herb garden. Currently it has dill and lovage in it. The bed on the other side of the peony experiment holds, chives, mint and a few other odds and ends. The mint has become unruly, as they tend to do, I started to clean up some of the stragglers but will need to come back to clean it up properly. Will put in a barrier to help keep it in check. Moeen and Chuck were also up.

High Temperature:
Actual: 17°C partly sunny Wind NNW16km/h P.O.P.30%
Average: 24°C
Record: 34°C in 1991

Low Temperature:
Actual: 7°C partly cloudy Wind NNW12km/h P.O.P.0%
Average: 12°C
Record: 5°C in 1985

Collect mint by trimming plants.
Wash stems and leaves, drying
thoroughly before you start the
preserving process.

After removing leaves from the stems, take the leaves and place them on a paper towel making sure to lay the leaves flat.

Put in microwave for 30 seconds on high.

After 30 seconds, move the leaves around and put in microwave for another 30 seconds.


After another 30 seconds, move around the leaves and put in for another 30 seconds.

Do this up to 3 minutes in the microwave. When your leaves have no moisture left place in a resealable jar and use your leaves over the winter in teas, soups, vegetables, etc. This should get you through until the crop is ready to start up again the next year.

Day +12 partly sunny Winds SSW14km/h P.O.P.0%
Night +1 partly cloudy Winds SW9km/h P.O.P.3%