Alliums in Your Garden Garlic, Leek, Onion, Scallion & Shallot November 2007 University of California Cooperative Extension Stanislaus County Alliums are a genus of plants yellow and come in many that have provided flavorful sizes. Their flavors are seasoning in food for thousands categorized as sweet, mild or of years. Onions and garlic pungent. were two of the most important crops consumed in ancient Garlic Egypt. Garlic is composed of about 10 bulbs contained in a papery Edible Alliums skin. It has a unique, pungent The following are the Latin aroma that separates it from planted in fall. Planting names of edible alliums, and other alliums. materials for these crops are show how they are separated available at local nurseries into different species: Scallions & Green Onions Botanical references define and some garden centers.
A. cepa : onion scallions as any young crop of Seeds A. ascalonicum: s hallot onion, shallot or leek. For Most of the edible alliums in A. sativum : garlic most purposes, the terms A. ampeloprasum : leek, elephant this guide are available as garlic scallion and green onion can seed. Seeds are the only form be used interchangeably. available for growing leeks.
Inedible Alliums Shallots You may wonder why the Sets Shallots are composed of Sets are small bulbs usually alliums in this guide are cloves encased in a papery referred to as “edible alliums” encased in a mesh bag. Red skin. Shallots have a sweeter, and white onions as well as as opposed to just “alliums.” milder flavor than onions and The reason is there are many garlic (as cloves) are available are usually coppery in color, in this form. The varieties in other plants in the allium genus although they can be gray or not used to season food. Many the bags are generally pink. unknown. of these alliums are bulbs with attractive flowers that can be Leeks Elephant garlic and garlic are colorful in a home landscape. Leeks have a mild, onion taste sold by the bulb. The bulbs and are popular for use in Chives are also alliums, and are made up of anywhere soup. Surprisingly, elephant from 5-15 cloves, each won’t be featured in this guide. garlic is also a leek. It shares Information on chives can be yielding a new plant. the same shape as ordinary found in the UCCE Stanislaus garlic, but not its pungent 6-pak and 4” containers County publication “Herbs in taste. Elephant garlic has a Onions, garlic and shallots are Your Garden.” softer flavor and its cloves can available in this form.
The following definitions are be roasted and spread like Separate the tiny plants and for the edible alliums used in butter. plant them 5-6” apart in rows. this publication. ALLIUM AVAILABILITY Bundles
Onions Alliums are cool season Onions are available in Onions can be white, red or vegetables that should be bundles of 50-100 transplants 1 Alliums in Your Garden University of California Cooperative Extension Stanislaus County November 2007 in several popular varieties like to fertilize, use a liquid kelp Plant sets 1-2” apart for Walla Walla, Stockton Red and or balanced fertilizer 3 weeks scallions, 1-2” deep in rows 1 Fresno White. after planting. Stop fertilizing 1/2 feet apart. For traditional 6-7 weeks before harvest. sized onions, space bulbs 5-6” GROWING ALLIUMS apart in rows 1-2 feet apart. Alliums are shallow-rooted Seeds Plant the bulb so the tip shows crops that grow well in almost Growing alliums from seed above the surface of the soil. any type of soil. However, takes patience and dense clay soil or rocks can persistence. Germination can Garlic Sets hinder growth and development. be patchy, the tiny plants may Before planting, pull apart grow slowly, and competitive connected cloves. Then, plant If your garden has clay soil, weeds can take over if not with pointed end up 1” deep, adding copious amounts of removed in a timely manner. 4-8” apart, in rows 1 1/2 feet compost can improve the Plant seeds in containers and apart. garden bed, but it must be done transplant seedlings into your each year before planting, as garden, or plant seeds directly Elephant Garlic organic matter breaks down. into your garden bed. Separate the bulb into cloves, Remove any rocks or clods then plant with pointed end from soil before planting. Sow seeds 1/2” deep, 1/2” up, 1” deep, 8-12” apart in apart in rows 1 1/2 to 2 feet rows 1 1/2 feet apart. Prepare most garden beds with apart. Seeds are tiny, so if 1 1/2” of compost mixed into you can’t space them apart, Onion Bunches the soil to create ideal sprinkle them along the row Each fall, onions are sold in conditions for alliums. A 4” and then thin later. Use bunches of 50-100 young raised bed contained with wood thinned plants as scallions. plantlets. Bury the plants 1 slats or bender-board will also 1/2” deep and place them 4” work well. Gardeners with Onion Sets apart. Grow them in rows 1 small spaces can grow alliums Before planting, sort the bulbs 1/2 to 2 feet apart. in pots. into two piles: bulbs larger than a nickel and bulbs BOLTING When watering alliums, keep smaller than a nickel. The Bolting is the term used when garden soil moist, but not larger bulbs are best used as a flower forms on the stock of soggy. Allow it to dry out green onions. The small an allium. As bolting occurs, somewhat between watering. bulbs are varieties that will the plant shifts energy away
develop into large onions from bulb formation. Cutting Alliums do not like off the flowering stalk will not competition, so remove any most successfully, although onions planted from sets have stop the process. When a plant weeds growing in your garden starts bolting, it must be bed. Weed carefully between a tendency to “bolt” more than other planting forms, harvested immediately. the bulbs, as they are easily bruised. according to a publication on Bolting happens when the onions from the UC Davis factors of temperature, variety Onions grown in compost Vegetable Research and plant size interact at just the enriched soil will not need Information Center. right time. Lessen your losses additional fertilizer. If you wish 2 Alliums in Your Garden University of California Cooperative Extension Stanislaus County November 2007 by planting continuously from Store onions in a dark, indoor weeks. November to January. place with temperatures between 35-50 °F. As a rule, HARVESTING GENERAL HARVESTING red and white onions do not SHALLOTS INSTRUCTIONS store for long periods of time. Shallots are ready for harvest All edible vegetables in the Yellow onions can be stored when bulbs are about 1/4” in allium genus are easily bruised for months because their skins diameter. Like onions, and should be treated with care. are more resistant to diseases shallots can be left in the Never pull the top of a plant to and insects. ground until ready for use. remove it. Use a digging spade Once the tops die back, or shovel when harvesting. HARVESTING GARLIC mature bulbs should be When about 1/4 of the foliage harvested and stored in a dry Crops are ready for fresh use in your garlic rows begin to place for 2 weeks. once pulled from the ground. turn brown, it’s time for To cure your crop, see harvest. Dig up a few bulbs PROBLEMS & instructions following each and peel off the wrapper. If SYMPTOMS allium. cloves are separated, garlic is Alliums are attacked by various problems in the HARVESTING SCALLIONS ready for harvest. garden. Symptoms of these White onions can be harvested Unlike onions, garlic should problems usually provide and used for scallions at any not be left in the ground until clues to the cause. time. ready for use. Dry bulbs in a
well-ventilated place for about Onion maggots HARVESTING ONIONS Onion maggots are a pest of Stop irrigating onions when 3 weeks. Then, brush off dirt and trim roots. Store in mesh most allium crops. Tunnels about 10% of the tops (leaves) and cavities in the bulb and have fallen over. Nutrients bags in a dry, airy place. Garlic can also be braided and underground stem may signal from the stems will continue to an infestation of onion move from the leaves to the hung in a cool, dry place. maggots. These symptoms bulbs until the leaves turn HARVESTING LEEKS are usually accompanied by brown. Onions can be left in Leeks are ready for harvest the rotting of the allium bulb. the ground and continuously when the bulb is 1” in harvested until all the tops are diameter. Use a spading fork Adult onion maggots are dry. to loosen the ground around small flies, and larvae are off-
the leeks, then gently pull white. Unfortunately, once Prepare onions for storage by present there is no control for placing them on newspaper in a them from the garden. onion maggots. Infested dry, protected area. To clean, Leek leaves (known as crops must be destroyed. Do brush off dirt and trim roots. “flags”) do not turn brown not compost. For future crops Leave about 1” of the stem, like other alliums. Leek will of alliums, protect with row unless you intend to braid the last longer if left in the ground covers immediately after onions. Thick necked onions do until ready for use. Once planting. not store well and should be harvested, they can be stored used as soon as possible. in the refrigerator for several 3 Alliums in Your Garden University of California Cooperative Extension Stanislaus County November 2007 Onion thrips carry different varieties of Onion thrips are a pest of most seeds, sets and bunches. The alliums. If leaves turn silvery Edible Allium guide on page and have white streaks or five will list specific varieties blotches, the culprit is most available locally as well as likely onion thrips. Their additional information. appearance is common during dry, warm weather. Insecticidal RECIPES soaps work well for eliminating The following recipe lists the this pest. easiest way to roast garlic at home. The next page of this Fungi publication features recipes Alliums can be attacked by from www.about.com different forms of fungi. The symptoms are pink, purple or Roasted Garlic* white fuzz and the eventual Pre-heat over to 400°F. Peel rotting of the bulb. Remove away some of the outer layers infected crops and destroy: do of the garlic, leaving the not compost. individual skins of the cloves intact. Using a knife, cut off For future plantings, ensure soil 1/4 to 1/2” of the top of the does not stay overly moist, as cloves on the whole bulb, these conditions help fungi exposing the insides of the thrive in the soil. Plant onions cloves. Place cloves inside a and garlic in a different place in muffin tin and drizzle olive oil your garden the following year. over the tops. Cover each garlic bulb with aluminum Nematodes foil and bake for 30-35 Stem and bulb nematodes can minutes. The garlic will be a problem in home vegetable easily come out of each clove gardens. Seedlings will have skin, and is wonderful spread pale and thick deformed stocks. on a piece of warm, fresh Older plants will appear sourdough bread. stunted, and leaf tips will die and the plant bulb will be Just for fun swollen at the base. All plants Check out this video by a should be removed from this garlic grower (and garlic area. Onions, garlic, leek, lover) in Texas. chives, parsley and celery http://www.youtube.com/watch? should not be grown in these v=pdlhr8My9n4 areas in the future.
THE ALLIUM GUIDE Nursery and garden centers 4 *Taken from http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/001712roasted_garlic.php Alliums in Your Garden University of California Cooperative Extension Stanislaus County November 2007 Cranberry Shallot Chutney Potato Leek Soup Ingredients Ingredients 3 C fresh cranberries (12 oz.) 3 leeks 2 large tart apples, peeled, cored and chopped 4 potatoes, quartered 1 1/4 brown sugar 1/4 C butter 1/3 C raspberry vinegar 1/2 C milk 1/2 C raisins 1/2 C light cream 1/4 C finely chopped candied ginger 1 qt water or chicken stock 1/2 tsp salt 1/4 tsp fresh chopped parsley 1/2 tsp curry powder 2 tsp chopped celery 2 minced shallots 2 tsp chopped shallots 3/4 C chopped walnuts or pecans, toasted 1/8 tsp celery seed Finely shredded zest of 1 orange 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions Instructions Place all the ingredients except the nuts in a Peel and quarter the potatoes. Prepare the leeks saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil and cook by removing the green portions. Cut down the uncovered, stirring occasionally until center lengthwise and wash thoroughly. Chop thickened, about 20 minutes. Stir in the nuts the white portions finely and sauté lightly with and ladle into hot, sterilized jars, seal and the chopped shallots in half the butter for 5-7 refrigerate. Keeps for 6-8 weeks. minutes. Add 1 quart of water or chicken stock, salt, celery, celery seed, parsley and po- This chutney complements roast turkey, pork tatoes. Simmer for 20-25 minutes. Remove po- loin and duck. You can also add a spoonful to tatoes and mash using a potato masher. Return a slice of savory cheesecake. potatoes to the cooking liquid. Stir in milk, cream and remaining butter.
Healthy Onion Rings whites in three small, separate bowls. Dip Ingredients each onion into milk, flour, egg white and 1 large onion bread crumbs (in that order). Place on 1 1/4 C Italian style bread crumbs prepared cookie sheets and bake for 20 1/2 tsp fresh minced garlic minutes. Turn over and bake for 10 more 1 C low fat milk minutes or until golden brown. 1 C all purpose flour Makes 4 servings. 3 large egg whites, slightly beaten
Instructions Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray 2 large cookie sheets with nonstick spray. Cut onion into 1/2 inch slices. In a separate bowl, combine bread crumbs and garlic. Put milk, flour and egg
5 EDIBLE ALLIUM GUIDE University of California Cooperative Extension Stanislaus County November 2007 Onion Flavor Comments ‘Candy’ Sweet Stores fairly well ‘Early Yellow Globe’ Mildly Pungent Stores very well ‘Fresno White’ Moderately Pungent Does not store well ‘Spanish’ Sweet Does not store well ‘Southport Red Globe’ Moderately Pungent Stores very well ‘Stockton Red’ Moderately Pungent Stores fairly well ‘Walla Walla’ Sweet Does not store well Garlic Pink varies Packaging will not list variety White varies Packaging will not list variety
Leek
‘American Flag’ Mild, onion-like Most common seed variety found locally flavor ‘Elephant’ Mild garlic-like Bulbs available flavor Shallot
Copper Mild, onion-like Packaging will not list variety flavor
6 Alliums in Your Garden University of California Cooperative Extension Stanislaus County November 2007
BIBLIOGRAPHY Vegetable flavor information taken from:http://www.burpee.com/ Bodnar, Jody. (1998). Shallots: what category/vegetables.do they are and how to grow them. Ontario: Ministry of Agriculture, Food Thanks and Rural Affairs. Retrieved on To Jan Mickler for lending the use October 22, 2007 from: of her botanical texts on alliums. http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/ crops/facts/98-037.htm To nurserywoman Jannelle Temple for her recipe suggestions. Bradley, F. M., & Courtier, J. (2006). Vegetable gardening . Pleasantville, Author : Anne Schellman, UCCE NY: The Reader's Digest Association. Stanislaus County. 3800 Cornucopia Way, Suite A, Modesto, CA 95358 Jauron, R. (2000). Growing onions in the home garden. Department of Horticulture, Iowa State University. The University of California prohib- Retrieved on September 18, 2007 from its discrimination or harassment of http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/ any person on the basis of race, hortnews/2000/4-7-2000/ color, national origin, religion, sex, growonions.html gender identity, pregnancy (including childbirth, and medical Jarvis, B. R. Raising leeks in conditions related to pregnancy or Minnesota gardens. Retrieved on childbirth), physical or mental dis- October 25, 2007 from: http:// ability, medical condition (cancer- www.extension.umn.edu/ related or genetic characteristics), yardandgarden/ygbriefs/ ancestry, marital status, age, sexual H213leeks.html orientation, citizenship, or status as a covered veteran (covered veterans Jones, H.A. & Mann, L.K. (1963). are special disabled veterans, re- Onions and their allies. London: cently separated veterans, Vietnam Leonard Hill Books. era veterans, or any other veterans who served on active duty during a Pittenger, D.R. (1992) . Home war or in a campaign or expedition Vegetable Gardening Publication for which a campaign badge has 21444 . Oakland, CA: ANR been authorized) in any of its pro- Publications. grams or activities.
Sunset Books. (2005). The edible University policy is intended to be garden. Menlo Park, CA: Sunset consistent with the provisions of Publishing Corporation. applicable State and Federal laws.
University of California Cooperative Inquiries regarding the University’s Extension Vegetable Research and nondiscrimination policies may be Information Center. Onion. Retrieved directed to the Affirmative Action/ on September 17, 2007 from http:// Equal Opportunity Director, Univer- vric.ucdavis.edu/ sity of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 1111 Franklin selectnewcrop.onion.htm th St., 6 Floor, Oakland, CA 94607, (510) 987-0096.
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