The Essential Veg

Probably The Most Used Vegetables, Onions And Other Alliums Are Worth Enjoying Straight From The Garden

- Chloe Thomson

They are loaded with beneficial sulphur and their pungent smell is strong enough to make even the toughest person cry! But, boy, are we addicted to members of the genus Allium — in fact, I can’t imagine cooking without them.

Alliums include favourites like onions, garlic, shallots, spring onions, leeks and chives, but also a number of ornamental plants grown purely for their showy pompom flower spikes.

There is a variety of onion to suit most climates around Australia. Check out your local nurseries for recommended cultivars and varieties to suit your region and when to plant them.

Typically, autumn to early winter is a great time to plant allium family members. You can grow onions, leeks, shallots, spring onions and chives easily from seeds or seedlings, while garlic, potato onions and walking onions are typically grown from bulblets or cloves planted individually.

MY FAVOURITE ALLIUMS