Cry Over Onions - They'll Heal You

Kitchen onion (lat. Allium cepa) belongs to the Amaryllis family (lat. Amaryllidaceae) of plants. The original homeland of the onion is not precisely determined, however, most sources consider it to be Central Asia. Here, the onion probably evolved from a wild onion species (lat. Allium oschaninii). The complexity of determining its origin is also due to the fact that it has been known for its medicinal properties for a very long time. It was already known in the Sumerian Empire period, in ancient Egypt, India, and China. Today, one of the many types of onions is known throughout the world.

Types of kitchen onion

There are many types of kitchen onion available on the market. The main distinguishing features are primarily the shape, which is most often round or oval, the taste of the onion, its growing season, and its colour - light or red.

Spring onion

Spring onions are sown early in spring, they are also called long-day varieties because they need long summer days for proper development. Some spring onion varieties are grown mainly for their bulbs, while others often utilize the delicious tops as well. In our e-shop, you can choose from several spring onion varieties.

• Spring onion Alice is a yellow, early onion variety that is grown predominantly from direct sowing. Its bulbs are spherical to flat-spherical in shape. A great advantage is very good storability and high yield.

• Tosca, on the other hand, is a medium-late to late spring onion variety. Its bulbs are elongated, oval in shape, therefore ideal for slicing. Tosca onion can grow up to 5 cm in diameter with a bulb length of up to 12 cm. The advantage is the firmness and very good storability of the bulbs.

• Karmen is a red type of onion, as the name itself suggests. Not only the skin but also the flesh is red. Karmen onion can be grown from seeds or sets. It is suitable for direct consumption as well as for storage.

• Pompei is a gourmet variety of spring onion. It is an early variety that thrives best when grown from direct sowing. The bulbs are smaller, elliptical in shape and white in colour. The onion flesh is firm, suitable for example for sterilization. The size of the bulbs can be regulated by denser sowing spacing.

• Stuttgarter onion is a traditional spring onion variety intended especially for growing from sets. The flesh is white in colour, very good in taste, characterized by a sharper flavour. The yield of this onion variety is very high. The storage period is relatively long.

Winter Onion

Winter onion is sown in autumn and is designed to overwinter in the bed. Well-known varieties include Augusta and Hiberna.

• Augusta is a short-day variety of winter onion. It is designed for autumn sowing and overwintering in the bed. Its flesh is white to yellowish in colour. The taste is delicate and flavourful. It can be harvested with greens for bunching or in the classic way. Thanks to autumn sowing, the harvest comes very early in spring. The storage life of this winter onion variety is short. The Hiberna variety has very similar characteristics.

Welsh Onion (Spring Onion)

The homeland of this onion species is China, from where it gradually spread to Russia and, in the 16th century, to Europe. It differs from the classic onion in that its bulbs are small, elongated in shape and grow in clusters. The leaves are delicate and tender. In the kitchen, the greens are most commonly used, which have a mild flavour with high vitamin C content. Its advantages are frost resistance and the plant's perennial nature. The best-known varieties of Welsh onion include Bajkal and Entita.

• Bajkal is a perennial variety of Welsh onion. It is grown for its greens and is also suitable for bunching. Sowing is carried out from spring until mid-July. Harvesting depends on the sowing time. For later sowings, the first harvest of green tops is not carried out until early spring of the following season.

Shallot

The shallot is also known as a multiplier onion. Both its bulbs, which have a sharper taste, and its greens are used. The shallot has gained its place especially in Russian, French and American cuisine. It is added to sauces. Its advantage is very long shelf life, which can be up to two years with proper storage.

Pearl Onion

The pearl onion is a somewhat atypical type of onion. Its bulbs are small, glossy and white in colour. They are not very durable, so they are usually pickled in brine.

Growing Onions from Seeds or Sets?

Onions can be planted in two ways – from seeds and from sets. In our conditions, both alternatives are possible. When sowing from seeds, smaller bulbs grow, which can be used for pickling, for example. Classic large onions will only grow when cultivated from sets, which are small bulbs that were grown in the previous season. The disadvantage of growing from sets is shorter storage life compared to growing from seeds.

Sow onions in a sunny location. The soil should be rich in nutrients, but must not be directly fertilized with farmyard manure. Seed sowing is carried out in early spring, but must not be premature, so that heavy frosts do not damage fresh onion sprouts. Sufficient water during this period also has a great influence on onion germination. After moistening, the seeds will swell, but if they do not receive another dose of irrigation, they will no longer germinate. Sowing is carried out to a depth of approximately 2 cm, rows should be about 30 cm apart. A mini greenhouse can also be used for sowing, where irrigation and optimal temperature for germination can be better regulated. Water young seedlings regularly and remove weeds. Mature plants usually manage with rainwater and are almost maintenance-free. Harvesting is carried out in early August, when about half of the plants have fallen tops. At this time, pull them out of the soil and leave them on the bed for a few more days so that the onions "tighten up" and then last longer in storage.

Growing from sets is the same. For planting, select undamaged and healthy onion bulbs, which you insert into the soil using a planting dibber. The optimal distance depends on the specific variety, most often a distance of approximately 10 cm is used.

Health Benefits of Onions

The beneficial effects of onions are very diverse. The most important substance contained in onions is allicin. It is a natural antibiotic, which is also contained in garlic. In addition to allicin, onions are full of other vitamins and minerals. They are a rich source of folic acid, B vitamins, vitamin C, E and carotenes. The minerals contained are also worth mentioning, especially iron, phosphorus, sulfur, zinc, potassium, calcium, sodium, copper, iodine.

Onions can be successfully used for treating colds, sore throat, and flu. The main healing substance is the already mentioned allicin, which can combat the symptoms of these illnesses. When sick, juice from chopped onion sprinkled with sugar is used; onion decoction (onion tea) has similar effects. A runny nose can be treated simply by inhaling the vapors from freshly cut onion. Onions also have beneficial effects on the stomach and intestines. They help maintain healthy intestinal microflora, improve appetite and subsequent digestion. People with milder forms of high blood pressure can avoid using artificially produced medications. The essential oils contained in onions can very quickly reduce high blood pressure. Besides blood pressure, onions can also lower levels of harmful cholesterol and blood sugar. Onions are very effective for treating insect bites. A freshly cut onion is applied to the affected area, which reduces swelling and itching. Moreover, onions are a natural aphrodisiac because they improve blood circulation to the sexual organs and thereby stimulate libido.

What About the Crying?

Almost everyone cries when cutting onions. The irritating gas that forms from the reaction of onion cells with sulfonic acid comes into contact with the cornea, which subsequently causes tearing. Actors often use this effect in scenes where they need to cry. You surely remember the Crazy Sad Princess.