How to Divide Egyptian Walking Onion Clumps For Stronger Plants and Bigger Bulbs

Egyptian Walking Onions (Allium fistulosum) initially appear just like regular onion plants in spring, but by mid- to late summer something extraordinary takes place: their leaves become long, feathery stalks.

Starting to produce topsets! Also known as tree onions or top-set onions, these baby onions are hardy and come back year after year.

Thin Out Crowded Clumps

Growing walking onions in containers allows gardeners to control soil conditions, spacing and movement of the plants while protecting them from gophers, slugs and other soil pests which could otherwise threaten them in the ground. Furthermore, walking onions can be grown in locations which might otherwise not suit perennial vegetables or crops needing shade such as beans, squash or tomatoes.

As Egyptian Walking Onions begin to produce their true leaves in spring, it may appear overcrowded. To best protect them from overcrowded seedlings competing for limited water and nutrients, thinning out should occur once their second set of leaves appear more identifiable than seed-leaves (cotyledons) that preceded them. Any hesitation may result in stunted growth that inhibits flowering altogether.

Walking onion seeds and bulbs should be planted in loose, well-draining soil with either neutral or slightly acidic pH levels, with high organic content such as potting mix with an increase of perlite or sand for enhanced drainage and aeration. Early season fertilization with balanced low nitrogen fertilizers promotes root and bulb development while mulching with straw or leaves regulates temperature while suppressing weeds – onions are heavy feeders who require consistent moisture but should never overwatered.

Harvest Topsets

Egyptian Walking Onions are perennial, so as you cultivate them you should harvest some topsets (or bulblets) to replant next year. As these hardy plants self-sow their own seeds, the perennial bulblets harvested now will create new onions both above and below ground next season.

Topsets (also called onion sets or bulbils) of Egyptian Walking Onions form at the top of its leaf stalk, sometimes described as having “candlestick” qualities due to how their bulblets appear like tall, taper candles on top. As these topsets mature they become heavier until eventually tipping over onto the ground where they root themselves and produce new onion plants.

Harvest the topsets from an Egyptian Walking Onion plant between mid and late summer and fall to help control its size, as this will allow energy from its plant to go toward producing larger bulbs underground. You can enjoy eating its green tops, as well as its hollow inside (which resembles that of shallot), or you could plant more clumps around your garden which will eventually form small shallot-like onions over time.

Harvest Bulbs in the Ground

Egyptian walking onion sets planted in spring tend to produce only small topsets that can be harvested when mature, though harvesting more may increase next year’s green harvesting potential.

As topsets get bigger, their weight may cause them to droop down towards the ground and they’ll take root there and form Egyptian Walking Onions plants right where they landed.

These little plants will continue to multiply year after year and form ever-expanding clumps, eventually flowering if given enough sunlight or where plants have been divided and replanted twice or more in two or more years.

These perennials are hardy in zones 3-9. Preferring full sun to partial shade conditions, they require well-drained soil with plenty of rich, light-colored garden loam that’s neither too sandy nor clay-like, for optimal success. A light winter mulch helps minimize root damage caused by freezing and thawing cycles while regular light fertilization, particularly spring and fall cycles, is recommended. When flowers have faded and yellowed before harvesting – leaving this foliage on will feed the bulbs for next year’s bloom!

Replant

Growing Egyptian Walking Onions (Allium x proliferum) can be both rewarding and sustainable way to enjoy this perennial vegetable. Also referred to as tree onions, Welsh onions or winter onions, these fascinating plants earn their name from their unique ability to walk across garden beds – creating clusters of small bulblets at the topstem that eventually fall and touch the ground, rooting and developing into new plants if left to their own devices; potentially moving up to 3 feet annually!

Crowded Egyptian Walking Onions tend to produce smaller topsets and fewer bulbs in the ground than well-divided clumps, so even though mature plants can produce small shallot-like onions this first season, it’s wiser to thin out and divide your plantings every spring or fall in order to prevent overcrowding.

Start with high-quality Egyptian Walking Onion bulbs and prepare the planting site accordingly for maximum harvest success. Egyptian Walking Onions prefer well-draining soil with a pH between 6.2 and 6.8, adding organic matter like compost can improve drainage and fertility while mulching helps retain moisture while suppressing weeds. When selecting containers for planting purposes make sure there are ample drainage holes.