Last week, local Skidmore farmer Allen Hudson brought in a batch of his very special onion sets. Those who have been around awhile haven’t seen a true multiplying onion here at Gill’s in years! It’s a tasty onion that you can plant year round, with a cool story that we wanted to share.
Allen named these heirloom onions ‘Grandpa Brown’s Multiplying Onions’ after his grandpa. As a kid, they would buy these onion sets at Zimmer’s Nursery in Beeville, plant them together, and watch them multiply.
After going off to college and returning to the area, Allen wondered if he could still find these onions to try and grow them commercially. He ended up tracking them down to a farmer in Toledo, TX and was able to get just 14 onions. He planted all 14, but the cows tore up 7, so he was really only able to start with 7 onions. Now he’s got that number up to about 50,000 at his farm! Rescued from the brink of extinction!
We’re so happy to have some available for you here at Gill’s! Most onion sets are not available until mid-November, but Grandpa Brown’s are ready to plant right now. Allen says plant them “up to the hips”, meaning leave some of the white bulb showing above the soil. They can be planted in clay or sandy soil, they’re heat tolerant, and cold hardy. Allen has tested lots of different fertilizers on the farm and found that the onions love organic Medina Growin’ Green – one of our favs.
They multiply by division, so you can plant a few and have a steady supply of green onions for years to come.
-Jesse
43 Comments on “Grandpa Brown’s Multiplying Onions”
I would luv some but in another county, can I reserve 3 ?
Hi Ann – sorry we can’t reserve any for you, but we should have plenty in stock through this Fall.
I am in San Antonio. Can I reserve 5?
Hi Gene – sorry we can’t reserve any for you, but we should have plenty in stock through this Fall.
They were almost gone, will you be getting more?
I will have more delivered tomorrow by 10 am.
I got some today, looking forward to this heirloom and making sure it goes on into the next generation. I grow a lot of onions that are mostly potato onions. So happy to get a supply at Gill’s. Thanks so much. Bob & Donna, Rockport, Tx
Glad to hear it, Bob & Donna! A lot of us here at Gill’s have planted them too. Mine are doing great 🙂
How can I order the multiplying onions? Is it too late to purchase?
Hi Karen – we’ll have more in mid-Feb!
Thanks for letting me know. I’ll bookmark your site and place an order then.
I would like to buy some of your multiplying onions. for my home garden. Can you ship to Georgia and what is the price.
I am looking for old fashioned multiplier onions,, the kind where you plant one bulb and grows several in A clump, pull them up, can cut one off just above the white part, and replant, and they’ll start all over again. Do you have any of these and how much? I live in southern California. Thanks Bev
Hi Beverly – we only serve our local market and do not ship plants. But, try https://multiplyingonion.com/. I believe they ship.
I would like to buy some of these onion
Dr. John – we have them available here in the store or you can visit http://www.multiplyingonion.com to purchase online.
Good evening.
Do you send to Greece;
Hi Michael – head over to https://multiplyingonion.com/ for shipping.
I bought a set of multiplying onions from a vendor at our local Farmer’s Market at the Art Center. My Dad grew them in our home garden, and I hadn’t been able to find them since. They’re now flourishing in my home garden!
Glad to hear! They’re tasty too – I’ve just started eating a few from my garden 🙂
Zone 9 B Central Florida here anxiously waiting onion delivery next few days looking forward 2 seeing what they will do? My recently harvested dixondale onions produced Fair whatever⁉️
Thank you for your purchase Mr. Turner. If you have any questions or issues while growing them fell free to contact me any time.
Allen Hudson
Serenity Agriculture
361-354-3534
I am intrested in your multiplying onions ., wondering if they come in bulbs or sets ,i’v raised those type of onions before..Live in tn now ,can’t find them here.
Thanks
Curtis
Hi Curtis – they come in sets. You can visit http://www.multiplyingonion.com to order some. We plan to have some more available here at Gill’s starting around late August/early September.
Give me alll of you öniön or else. i will take öniön from you.\
what is you propösal? why do you let me take öniön from you?
ok i recomsider, i buy öniön from you at reasonable price , how say you?
Give me all of you öniön or else. i will take öniön from you.
what is you propösal? why do you let me take öniön from you?
ok i reconsider, i buy öniön from you at reasonable price , how say you?
Give me all of you öniön or else. i will take öniön from you.
what is you propösal? why do you let me take önion from you?
ok i reconsider, i buy öniön from you at reasonable price, how say you?
Are these onions the same as bunching onions
Are these onions the same as bunching onions.
Not exactly – these are a true multiplying onion. We’ll have some more in stock very soon (mid August to early Sept) Here’s a video update from the grower with some tips on how to grow them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vJNWz47GMI
I want to buy these onions how do i place an order.?
How do i place an order with y’all for these multiplying onions
Why can’t i place an order for onions on this website
Hi Charles, we sell them in person only here in Corpus Christi. If you’d like to purchase online, visit http://www.multiplyingonion.com
Will these be cold hardy to overwinter in Ohio with a good fall mulching?
Hi James – that’s too far north for us to advise, but you might call the grower at 361-354-3534. He is here in South Texas as well, but he may know how they’ll behave in your area.
Hi. I live in South Africa and would love to plant some of those onions. I doubt that sets could be sent via mail. So my question is do they produce seed and if so may I order some?
Regards
Martie
Hi Martie – visit http://www.multiplyingonion.com for more info. The grower may be able to help.
Hello Martie, my name is Allen Hudson and I’m the local distributor for the multiplying onion. These onions do not produce seed and only grow by bulb division. I plan on talking with my USDA agent this year about shipping over seas. Feel free to contact me if you have any other question. All my contact information is on my website http://www.multiplyingonion.com
I’m interested in learning the botanical classification for GBMO–would it be A. cepa var. aggregatum? Thanks!
Hi Charles – that’s a great question for the grower. You can contact Allen here: https://multiplyingonion.com/contact-us
Should scapes be removed from multiplying onions?
Hi Ann – your choice! You can leave the scapes, let them flower, let them die back, and they’ll come back up. Or you can cut the scapes and use them and they’ll grow back.