Egyptian Walking Onions are one of the simplest plants you can grow in the garden. Learn how to grow Egyptian Walking Onions in your garden!
"Normal" onions, like those found in the store, often take a lot of time to grow. They are also difficult to grow if you want a nice sized bulb.
Egyptian Walking Onions on the other hand are so simple to grow. In fact, they will actually plant themselves over and over!
How To Grow Egyptian Walking Onions
The first thing you need to do is buy some Egyptian Walking Onion bulbs, plants, or bulbils. To clarify, the bulb is the actual onion and the bulbil is the tiny bulbs that the onion produces on the top of the stalk.
When I started my plants, I bought the full sized bulbs from Baker Creek Seeds. Once you have your bulbs, you will need to plant them.
When To Plant Egyptian Walking Onions
Egyptian Walking Onions can actually be planted anytime between your last and first frost! I do recommend fall planting, but you can also plant them during the spring and summer.
Egyptian Walking Onions are hardy all the way down to zone 3! These plants are very tough and are probably one of the easiest plants you can grow.
How To Plant Egyptian Walking Onions
Each bulb should be planted in well draining soil that is rich in nutrients. While these onions can thrive in most soil conditions, rich soil will yield the largest bulbs.
The bulbs should be planted about an inch below the soil's surface. When planting make sure to have the "pointy" part of the bulb pointed toward the sky.
Once you have planted your bulbs you can then water them well and wait for them to sprout. If you planted them during the fall, you may not see them till next spring.
When planting make sure the spot is in full sunlight. These onions thrive in full sun, so don't plant them in a shady part of your garden.
How To Grow Healthy Bulbs
Egyptian walking onions will yield smaller bulbs than other onions. Here are my tips for getting the largest bulbs possible.
Compost
Compost, compost, and more compost. I really can't tell you how great compost is for your plants. It feeds the soil, nourishes the plants, and will give you the best plants possible.
I will usually incorporate compost into the soil during planting and then around July I will also give it some more compost on top of the soil.
If you don't have compost, you can also apply these organic fertilizers.
Mulch
Mulch will also help your plants grow and keep the weeds at bay. You can use straw, dead leaves, compost, and grass clippings as a natural mulch layer.
This layer of mulch should be between 2-4 inches deep. Another benefit of adding mulch is the moisture retention qualities, so you can water less.
Cut the flowers
If you want the best bulbs, you can also cut the flower off the plants before they open up. This will direct more energy into creating larger bulbs.
When To Harvest Egyptian Walking Onion Bulbs
There are actually four different parts of the plant that you can harvest and eat. The main one is the large bulb.
Harvesting Walking Onion Bulbs
When you plant an onion bulb it will "group" and multiply throughout the growing season. Then during the fall (once the leaves start falling) you can dig up the bulbs.
Use a pitch fork and pull the bulbs out of the soil. Then brush off as much soil as possible, but don't use water to clean them as that will shorten their storage period.
You can then dry the bulbs on a drying rack for a few weeks before storing them in a well ventilated container. Remember to replant a few of the bulbs after harvesting.
Harvesting Walking Onion Greens
You can also use the green stems of the plant as green onions. These stalks can be picked throughout the year and used to garnish food.
When harvesting onion greens just make sure to leave enough stems on the plant so that they can still grow strong bulbs.
Harvesting Walking Onion Flowers
The flowers of Egyptian Walking Onions are also edible. You can use these flowers in stocks, soups, or in homemade vinaigrettes.
You will want to harvest these flowers right when they bloom and are the freshest.
Harvesting Walking Onion Bulbils
The bulbils will develop if you leave the flower on the plant. These little bulbils will eventually fall off the plant and start new plants.
This is where the onions get the name of "walking". The stalks will fall over and the bulbils will start new plants, so it looks like the plants are walking around the garden from year to year.
These bulbils can be harvested and used just like the bulb. They are much harder to cut up, but you can still use them.
I like to leave a few of these on the plant and allow new plants to emerge.
Never Buy New Plants
Egyptian Walking Onions are so carefree that you don't even have to buy new plants. These plants are great at multiplying and spreading across your garden.
The bulbils will sprout and grow into new bulbs and the bulbs will multiply. You can even share plants with your friends and family.
These plants are perennials all the way down to zone 3, so they can survive even in really cold climates. Grow some Egyptian Walking Onions and you will always have a fresh supply of onions!
Pin This!
Leave a Reply