Onion varieties: New & well-established onion varieties

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

The numerous types of onions 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.

Flying 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 bulbs 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 toppings for rolls or other dishes.

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

Onion

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

Large 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:

• Zittauer yellow: Proven and popular onion variety; round, firmOnions with a good shelf life; robust with good aroma.
• Borettana: Traditional Italian variety with a flat, rounded shape; particularly mild and sweet taste; great for salads and 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 Di Bologna: Large, rounded onions; easy to store.
• Stuttgarter Riesen: very old and proven traditional variety from the area around Stuttgart; lush, flat-topped onions; good shelf life.

White onion varieties:

• Tonda Musona: Large, round onions; tasty and easy to store.
• Snowball: Mild taste, high sugar content; ripens early and can be stored to a limited extent.
• Albion (F1): Mild, tasty and round onion variety; high yields and easy to store for a few weeks.

Red onion varieties:

• Rossa di Toscana: Traditional variety from Italy with a good taste; round shape and easy to store.
• Redspark (F1): New variety with lush, round bulbs; very high yields and good aroma; planted very often in commercial cultivation.
• Di Genova: early-ripening onion variety; flat round and large; very mild and delicate; not good shelf life.
• Karmen: 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; Hugely popular with onion lovers.
• Brunswick Dark Blood Red: Probably the best known and most tried and tested traditional variety of all; firm, flat-round onions and good shelf life.

Shallots Allium cepa var. ascalonicum

Ancient 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 yellow skin; quite large shallots.
• Longor: Traditional variety from France with elongated bulbs; very mild and good aroma.
• Biztro: tasty variety with an excellent aroma; roundish with red-brown skin.
• Hermine: 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 from Lisbon)
• Freddy: Extremely hardy with good yields; the shaft end is only slightly thicker.
• 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 a good aroma; typical spring onion.
• Pal: Rapidly growing spring onion, the stem begins to branch early; Shaft end is hardly thickened.
• Long White: Fast-growing variety with a long stem; hardly thickened; productive and aromatic.
• La Reine: Leek onion with a lush formation of bulbs at the end of the shank; not a hardy variety; good for pickling.
• Feast (F1): American variety 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 pink-pink shaft ends; fast-growing, and high yielding.

(synonyms: spring onion, spring onion, young onion, spring onion, winter onion, coarse chive)

Pearl Onion (Allium ampelorasum) / Silver Onion (Allium cepa)

The small, typical pearl onions that used to grow in grandma and grandpa's garden are actually no longer there. 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, quite firm bulbs; very tasty and good forInsert to use.
• Pompeii: small aromatic pearl onions; very mild with uses similar to spring onions.
• White Queen: extremely tasty and mild onion; perfect for pickling.

Once you have decided on one of the numerous types of onions, it's time to stick the onions. Find out how best to do this in our special article.