Table 1 Cultivations practises and name use of cultivated taxa of Allium in Swedish garden literature 1692–1867
From: Traditional uses and practices of edible cultivated Allium species (fam. Amaryllidaceae) in Sweden
Author | Year | Taxonomically understood as | Common name used | Plant date | Harvest date | Onions as sets? | Other | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rålamb [35] | 1694 | A. cepa | Löök | Early spring by seed | When leaves wither | Yes, in spring | Sow together with lettuce, kale and parsnip. The thin onions from Brunswick are better than the ones from Bamberg and Strasbourg | n/a |
Rålamb [35] | 1694 | A. cepa Aggregatum Group—shallot | Charlotter | Autumn | When leaves wither | Yes, small onions saved as sets | Can be left in the ground in cultivation for 3–4 years if grown in sandy soil to promote bigger onions. True seed are available from Italy | The large onions are eaten and the small one kept as sets |
Rålamb [35] | 1694 | Allium spp. | Kol- eller jacobslök | End of July (as the moon wanes) | In spring for use. Onions for propagation are kept in cultivation until replanting in July | Yes | Cultivated together with lettuce and common cornsalad (Valerianella locusta) | As food in spring |
Ahlich [36] | 1722 | A. cepa | Holländsk Röd-Lök | In April (as the moon wanes) as seed | End of July when the leaves wither (after jacobii, as the moon wanes) | n/a | There are white, yellow and red onions, all with the same requirements | n/a |
Ahlich [36] | 1722 | A. cepa Aggregatum Group—shallot | Charlotter | End of July (after Jacobi, as the moon wanes) | End of July (by Jacobi, when the leaves wither) | Yes, small onions saved as sets | Can be left in the ground in cultivation for 2–3 years if grown in sandy soil to promote bigger onions. Can be sown as true seed but this is unnecessary when enough small onions are harvested | Large onions are used as food |
Ahlich [36] | 1722 | Allium spp. | St Johannis Löök | In August (as the moon wanes, three weeks after harvest) | In August | Yes, onions for propagation can be kept in cultivation until replanting |  | Can be used as food in May |
Dahlman [37] | 1728 | A. cepa | Löök | In spring (as the moon waxes) as seed | Seeds can be harvested if inflorescences are cut off and stored inside to mature in autumn | n/a | There are white, yellow and red kinds. Some gardeners replant the onions in pits when they are pea-sized | n/a |
Dahlman [37] | 1728 | A. cepa Aggregatum Group—shallot | Scharlotter | In autumn | When the leaves begin to wither | Yes, small onions saved as sets | Can be left in the ground in cultivation for 3–4 years if grown in good soil to promote bigger onions | Large onions are used for cooking. |
Dahlman [37] | 1728 | Allium spp. | Johannis löök | In August (as the moon wanes) | In spring for use. Onions for propagation are kept in cultivation until replanting | Yes |  | Used as food in spring |
Kammecker [38] | 1731 | A. cepa | Holländsk Löök | In April (as the moon wanes) as seed | n/a | n/a |  | n/a |
Kammecker [38] | 1731 | A. cepa Aggregatum Group—shallot | Charlotter | End of July (soon after harvest by Jacobi, as the moon wanes) | End of July (by Jacobi) | Yes, small onions saved as sets | Can be left in the ground in cultivation for 2–3 years if grown in sandy soil to promote bigger onions. Sets are separated and cleaned before replanting |  |
Kammercker [38] | 1731 | Allium spp. | St Johannis Löök | In August or September (three weeks after harvest date) | In August (as the moon wanes) | Yes |  | n/a |
Broocman [39] | 1736 | A. cepa | Rölök | As seed in early spring | 24 August (Bartolomei) | Unclear | Sown together with parsnip, lettuce and anise. Dried before being stored and kept from freezing in winter | Used in several home remedies |
Broocman [39] | 1736 | A. cepa Aggregatum Group—shallot | Schalotter | 29 September (Michaelmas) | When leaves wither | Yes | A species of onion that doesn't set seed in Sweden |  |
Lundberg [40] | 1780 | A. cepa | Rödlök (Cepa vulgaris)/ Hwit Spansk Lök/ Gul Holländsk Lök/ | By seed in late April–early May. The yellow Dutch and white Spanish varieties can be sown for transplanting in March | When ready, not too late | n/a |  | n/a |
Lundberg [40] | 1780 | A. cepa Aggregatum Group—shallot | Johannis-Lök | In August, replanted every year | Soon after Midsummer | Yes | Same cultivation instructions for St John's onion, shallots and chives (A. schoenoprasum), with the exception that chives are to be replanted every three years | n/a |
Lundberg [40] | 1780 | A. cepa Aggregatum Group—shallot | Charlotten-Lök | In August, replanted every year | Soon after Midsummer | Yes | Same cultivation instructions for St John's onion, shallots and chives (A. schoenoprasum), with the exception that chives are to be replanted every three years | n/a |
Fleischer [41] | 1795 | A. cepa | Rödlök | Round varieties: as soon as possible in spring. Elongated varieties: a little later. The yellow and the Spanish red varieties can be sown for transplanting | When leaves are turning yellow | n/a | The known varieties are 'large Italian' (winter hardy), 'common red', 'large yellow' and 'white'. More elongated forms of the white and the common red are also cultivated as 'winter onion'. Sown in spring to be eaten in winter. The common variety in common use is a flat globe shape. The biggest and shiniest onions are selected as seed stock | n/a |
Fleischer [41] | 1795 | A. cepa Aggregatum Group—shallot | Scharlott lök (A Ascalonicum) | Preferably in September | In July when leaves are turning yellow | Yes, small onions saved as sets | Contrary to common practice, the leaves shall not be eaten in spring | Large onions are used as food |
Jörlin [42] | 1796 | A. cepa | Röd-lök | Early spring by seed | In August | n/a | Stored twined with straw, in a net by a chimney or in dry ash | The Russian or Egyptian variety gives onions the size of small turnips. Pickled in vinegar in stone pots, these will taste rather pleasant |
Jörlin [42] | 1796 | A. cepa Aggregatum Group—shallot | Skarlotten lök. Allium molchatum | Autumn or spring (as chives) | Replanted in autumn or spring, perennial | Yes | Winter hardy | Can be used in early spring |
Ihrström [43] | 1808 | A. cepa | Rödlök | Direct sown in field by seed. For sets: As seeds in end of July | In September. Small onions for sets: harvested end of September or October | Yes, onions the size of nuts are kept as sets. Planted in spring for an early harvest of large onions. Some varieties give many onions per set which increases the yield | Two varieties of common red onion are grown: 'Thick Red' and 'Flat Red'. Also: 'White Spanish', 'White Dutch', 'Yellow Dutch', 'Light Red', 'Portuguese' | In Russia, breeding has resulted in a cross between 'yellow Dutch' and 'light red Portuguese' which form clusters of 3–4 onions per set when replanted |
Ihrström [43] | 1808 | Allium spp. | Johannislök | By end of September | August | Yes | Shallots, Welsh onion and St John's onion are three varieties of Allium fistulosum. Johannes onion differs from Welsh onion by the withering of its leaves in August, just like shallot | n/a |
Ihrström [43] | 1808 | A. cepa Aggregatum Group—shallot | Charlottenlök | In spring | After end of August (like other kinds of onion) | Yes | Shallots, Welsh onion and St John's onion are three varieties of Allium fistulosum. Shallots are an early kind of onion that are winter hardy in our climate but never set seed | Gives an early and quite tasty crop |
Vothmann [44] | 1837 | A. cepa | Röd-Lök | By seed in early spring, direct sown or for transplanting | When leaves are turning yellow and falling | n/a | Parsnip, lettuce or kale are sown between the rows. Two varieties are known: the large and high 'Hochheimer' and the 'flat globe red onion' | n/a |
Vothmann [44] | 1837 | A. cepa Aggregatum Group—shallot | Schalottenlök | October (can be planted in both autumn and spring) | After Midsummer | Yes, small onions used as sets | Spring planting is preferable in humid soils | Large onions are used as food; the leaves can be eaten at spring time |
Lundström [45] | 1841 | A. cepa | Rödlök | Both sown in field in spring, and as sets in spring and by seed for transplanting in April | First onions from sets by Midsummer, followed by the sown onions and lastly the transplanted larger onions | Yes, small onions the size of peas and nuts are sorted out in autumn to be used as sets in spring | There are six known varieties (yellow Dutch, yellow Portuguese, red Dutch, red Spanish, white Dutch, white Spanish). Domestic seed are better than foreign | n/a |
Lundström [45] | 1841 | A. cepa Aggregatum Group—schalottenlök | Shalotten-lök and johannis-lök | Spring or autumn (same way as garlic) | July | Yes | "Shalotten-lök" and "johannis-lök" are two varieties of same species [A. ascalonicum] and resemble each other | n/a |
Muller [46] | 1850 | A. cepa | Rödlök | By seed in spring and for transplanting in March or April. By sets in spring | When leaves are turning yellow. Onions from sets can be harvested soon after Midsummer | Yes, small onions kept from last year's harvest are used as sets and produce large onions early. These cannot be stored well | Many varieties are known. Varieties meant to be small in size ('Dutch pearl onion') are sown more densely | n/a |
Muller [46] | 1850 | A. cepa Aggregatum Group—potato onion/Nordic shallot | Nordiska Schalotten, Allium cepoides | Early spring | Autumn | Yes | The onions are yellow and the size of walnuts. Gives a rich and reliable yield. Are winter hardy and stored like red onion | Tastes like red onion but is superior |
Muller [46] | 1850 | A. cepa Aggregatum Group—shallot | Schalotten, Allium escalonicum | Early spring | Autumn | Yes | Comes from Palestine | n/a |
Anderson, J.F. [47] | 1852 | A. cepa | Rödlök | By seed in spring and for transplanting into pots or containers. By sets in spring | As for garlic: when leaves are turning yellow the length of one finger from the top | Yes, small onions the size of hazelnuts are kept from last year's harvest and used as sets, producing good onions soon after Midsummer | Many varieties are known | n/a |
Anderson, J.F. [47] | 1852 | A. cepa Aggregatum Group—potatislök/nordisk schalottenlök | Nordiska Schalottenlöken | Can be planted in autumn for a bigger and richer yield | When ready after Midsummer (as garlic) | Yes, propagated by small onions formed around the large ones | Winter hardy | n/a |
Eneroth [48] | 1867 | A. cepa | Rödlök | By seed in spring or by sets in early spring | When leaftips are turning yellow. Sets are harvested in June | Yes, small onions are kept from last year's harvest and used as sets, producing large onions early. These cannot be stored well | The variety 'white Dutch onion' also known as "pearl onion" [syltlök] is less commonly grown by poorer households. The best varieties are 'blood red Dutch' and 'Strasbourger' | n/a |
Eneroth [48] | 1867 | A. cepa Aggregatum Group—potato onion/Nordic shallot | Rysk Scahlottenlök [Russian shallot] | Autumn, simultaneously with the harvest | Autumn | Yes, small onions saved as sets | Can be grown in the far north of Sweden | The flesh colour resembles the 'White Dutch Onion' but the other parts are light brown. Smells like Red Onion but cloves are irregular in shape since it grows in clusters |
Eneroth [48] | 1867 | A. cepa Aggregatum Group—shallot | Vanliga Schalottenlöken [Common shallot] | Spring | Autumn | Yes, small onions saved as sets | Are only suitable for the south of Sweden | Are tastier but not as large as the Russian shallot and not as white in the flesh |