[Neil Doncaster]

Hello there,
                 What I want to know is do I grow pickling onions the same way as ordinary ones,what I mean by that is do I have to wait until the tops bend over and die back then let them dry in the sun for a bit before I can use them or do I just wait until they are the size I require.The reason I am asking this question is some of my onins are getting a bit big for the  jars.
                          Many thanks Neil Doncaster

[sonnycbr]

Hello Neil,what variety are you growing for pickling? The only one I've used is Paris Silverskin, which doesn't form large bulbs and matures into niced sized onions for the jars. Another way to go is to use shallots for pickling, although they tend to be a bit stronger than the silverskin varieties. I would say that if they are not a pickling variety of onion that you are growing, just lift when large enough.

[Babstreefern]

I've grown shallots (various sizes - some largish and some small).  The large ones, I shall use as normal onions and the rest I shall pickle.  But personally, I've put any type of onions in vinegar (not normally pickling vinegar type), and they've been lovely when thoroughly soaked in for a week - they make absolutely delicious cheese and onion butties

[Ian_A]

I pickle with any variety and use them when they are not too large. Or use shallots.

Then again I have also pickled the larger onions that I have simply cut into slices - they pickle wonderfully

[Neil Doncaster]

I cant remember the variety but do I pick them now or leave them till the tops bend over and go yellow much the same like normal onions.
                           Cheers Neil Doncaster

[mumofstig]

The answer was posted here:

Hello Neil, .............................................
I would say that if they are not a pickling variety of onion that you are growing, just lift when large enough.

[Neil Doncaster]

I have found the label they are SY300 do I treat them like normal onionswhenharvesting this is the one question I would love to have an answer for.Sombody please help!

[DD.]

Yes, treat them as others.

The RHS give them a mention:

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/Grow-Your-Own/Eating-and-cooking/The-art-of-preserving/Pickling

[Neil Doncaster]

many many thanks for that