Egyptian Top Walking Onion, Allium cepa var. proliferum, bulbils / topsets -- 15

Description

DL
Evergreen
Long-Lasting Perennials for Permaculture
This sale is for 15
Allium cepa var. proliferum, a.k.a. Egyptian/ Top/ Walking Onion bulbils/bulbil sets (sometimes called topsets).   This is one of the only allium varieties where onions can be harvested from the top of the leaf stalks.   Some of my onions have been regenerating in the same spots for more than a decade.  Egyptian onions are easy to grow, and are beneficial plants for many reasons:
Special Qualities of
Allium cepa var. proliferum, a.k.a. Egyptian/ Top/ Walking Onion:
·
A sculptural plant with tall, blue-green leaves up to 3 ft high, makes a beautiful show in the spring and early summer, contrasting nicely with the greener foliage of most other plants.
·
Little, sprig-like, onion bulbils/top sets form atop the leaves, creating unusual forms with captivating landscape interest.
·
A fast growing, productive plant, drought tolerant and disease resistant once established, taking little input.
·
Egyptian Onion is a long-lived, practically perpetual plant, where individual bulbs live 7+ years but multiply around the mother bulb, thus when the mother dies, the surrounding bulbs keep going and multiplying around themselves.
·
All parts of the plant emit a strong odor that can stick to clothes (becomes stronger when the plant is handled or crushed), and though some can?t handle the smell, others (like me) consider it manageable.  This odor also protects the plant and those surrounding it from certain predators.  The plant like other alliums contains fungicidal properties as well as sulphur and phenol based allelopathic compounds, so that the leaves can be torn off and used as a mulch around other mature plants to suppress insects and weeds.
·
The young leaves of the plant can be used as a chive/onion substitute in salads and other dishes, and though the older leaves get quite hot and spicy, the bulbils are less strong, and can be used the same way most other onions are used.  This plant is one of the few alliums that produces top sets, so the bulb (which is also edible) does not have to be dug and the plant can act as a true perennial, saving you time and energy, better beautifying your landscape, and providing you an almost year-round supply of fresh onions.
·
The plant can be propagated easily and quickly by planting the bulbils/top sets and/or by division of the main bulbs, making it practical for an almost year-round evergreen
ground cover
.
·
The leaf juice can be used as an insect and mole (and people)
repellent
, and is occasionally used as a polish or rust preventative on metals. A yellow-brown dye can be boiled out of the bulb skins.
·
Walking onion, as a
hypertensive
, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antispasmodic, carminative, expectorant tonic, is thought to be medicinal, promoting general health when eaten regularly.
Planting Instructions and Customer Care:
·
Onion topsets last for a short time in storage.  They are small, live plants that can dry out or mold if not planted fairly soon after their arrival. Still, these topsets can remain viable for at least a few weeks, even one to two months after harvesting if not cured.  Mine develop throughout summer, and I choose not to cure them to conserve energy, thus I sell them only seasonally.  The sets I send to you are stored for no more than three weeks, shaded, protected and sometimes moisturized in a paper package after being harvested.  Some of the green tops may dry out, but the bulbs are still viable.  If you can't plant them right away, preferably keep them in a cool, dark place (if using the refrigerator
keep them dry
or they will mold), or plant them in pots and grow them inside over the winter.  Water just once a week or as needed but be careful not to
over-water
.
·
If planting in the fall, make sure to do so at least a few weeks before the first hard freeze.  I would not advise planting outdoors in USDA zones 3B or 4 if it is late fall because the topsets likely will need more time to establish themselves before freezing temperatures occur. Light mulching also helps preserve soil heat and moisture so the plants will better survive.
·
If given enough light, Egyptian onions grow well around the bases of mature trees, and in general the plants look better in groups.  They can also work along pathways but the bulbils will act to weigh the stems down to the ground as they mature, and if not removed soon enough, the plants will likely flop over into the pathway, making walking more difficult, and creating a more unsightly display by mid-late summer.
Look for other quantity orders for this same plant on eBay:
30 Individual Bulbils/Top sets for .00 (Shipping Included)
60 Individual Bulbils/Top sets for .00 (Shipping Included)
Shipping and Return Policy:
Due to most countries' customs restrictions concerning plants/seeds, as well as the high overhead costs of shipping long distances, this item will only be shipped within the United States.  Also, because of the perishable and less predictable nature of plant materials, returns and replacements are impractical. However, I check items thoroughly, pack orders carefully, and all are tracked and eBay buyer protected to insure you get what you ordered or be refunded.    Photo documentation of damage to goods with the dated shipping/postage label may be required to receive a refund.  Before filing a claim if you are ever unsatisfied, do not receive an order, or have any questions, please don?t hesitate to notify me, and we'll work preventatively to address and/or correct issues.
I greatly appreciate your order--thank you for your business!  I hope you enjoy growing your Egyptian Onions!
For more information about long-lived permaculture plants and plants sold by DL Evergreen search Visions of Evergreen