Globe onion varieties that you like?

[Joel_BC]

It's proving harder to get seed for Copra, the variety of bulb onion that we've really liked. We may not be able to get either seeds or starts for it this next spring. On our soil, Copra bulbs mature fairly compact, generally - a lot of them being roughly the size of a pool (billiard) ball, with maybe 20% getting larger. I'm interested in seeing if we can find a variety that produces big globes, that store well.

Our soil isn't an ideal loam. We've added a lot of organic matter, and we use vaious organic sources to boost fertility. The basic mineral-soil type is silty-sandy... so it is well drained, but not a great commercial market-garden soil. We're in zone 6, temp-wise.

I'd like to find a variety that tends to yield bulbs ranging between the size of a baseball and a softball. I've seen some (grown orgnically) for sale at farmer's markets around here, but I've forgotten one of the names for a variety that does grow to that size in our climate.

Any suggestions?

 

[baymule]

Is it possible to let some of your onions go to seed and save the seed?

 

[Joel_BC]

Is it possible to let some of your onions go to seed and save the seed?

No. I was growing them outdoors, and the season was over back in early October. It would take a time machine for me to let some go to seed.

 

[Emerald]

Territorial seed says they still have it. and most of what I have just read says the copra is an F1 hybrid so trying to save seed by planting out bulbs in the second year will get you seed but it may not seed true. The seed may revert back to either one or the other of the original parent plants. but I've not grown this type before..

 

[Joel_BC]

Territorial seed says they still have it. and most of what I have just read says the copra is an F1 hybrid so trying to save seed by planting out bulbs in the second year will get you seed but it may not seed true. The seed may revert back to either one or the other of the original parent plants. but I've not grown this type before..

Thanks. Good to know that Territorial has it. On the other hand, I'd also like to try some other varieties.

Varieties called "Dakota Tears" and "Yellow of Parma" have been suggested to me. Anyone have exprience with either of these? (Did they get big, did they keep well, did they have good flavor?)

But in any case, please let me know if you have experience with a variety matching the description in the OP, if you think it might work for us. Thanks.

 

[~gd]

Territorial seed says they still have it. and most of what I have just read says the copra is an F1 hybrid so trying to save seed by planting out bulbs in the second year will get you seed but it may not seed true. The seed may revert back to either one or the other of the original parent plants. but I've not grown this type before..

Thanks. Good to know that Territorial has it. On the other hand, I'd also like to try some other varieties.

Varieties called "Dakota Tears" and "Yellow of Parma" have been suggested to me. Anyone have exprience with either of these? (Did they get big, did they keep well, did they have good flavor?)

But in any case, please let me know if you have experience with a variety matching the description in the OP, if you think it might work for us. Thanks.

Joel both seeds amd sets seem to be available on the Internet they can be a bit pricy however.
Onions are complex since production depends on weather AND ON DAYLENGTH. there are short day types [southern USA] and long day types suited to more northern locations. [not a typo] during the warm months the days in the north are longer than in the south due to the tilt of the earth's axis. The temperature enters into it too since onions tend to 'bolt' in hot climates [bulb growth stops and blooms start] The point of this long sidenote is that what works well for me or others may not work for you I suggest you check with a Master Gardener [part of the coop-extension service, every county has an office] to see what works in your area. Evidently the ones named Copra worked well for you. When t moved from the north coast (northen NY} to NC none of my old favorite onions did well at the new location.~gd

 

[Joel_BC]

Thanks, ~gd. Yes, I'm in that long-day northern latitude.

How about Patterson? Also Ailsa Craig... and the Kelsey Sweet Giant? Any experience? I've just heard about these from a neighbor, but she hasn't tried them yet (she just has read a description that made these sound possible to grow in our area).

 

[moolie]

I don't know too many varieties, but Ailsa Craig is traditionally grown for show and fresh use, it is NOT a good keeper. Hope that helps a little! I usually just buy the onion sets they sell at my local nursery and they usually do well--I've still got 10 or so in storage from when we pulled them in September.

 

[Joel_BC]

I don't know too many varieties, but Ailsa Craig is traditionally grown for show and fresh use, it is NOT a good keeper. Hope that helps a little! I usually just buy the onion sets they sell at my local nursery and they usually do well--I've still got 10 or so in storage from when we pulled them in September.

Thanks, moolie. Glad to get the info. I've got half-full red woven bags of Copra, spanish, and yellow onions left, and all still firm. For us the spanish and yellows matured too small, in general, hence harder to use in the kitchen. I definitely won't plant the spanish variety again - small, squat, and tough-skinned.

 

[Corn Woman]

I like Candy onion because it stores fairly well not as well as Copra but it is delicious and can get very large.