[Franceska]

Hi Everyone!  I now am the proud owner of a huge plastic jug and my husband has asked me to pickle onions for it.  What kind of onions are the best?  Are sets available now?

[DD.]

Shallots are probably the most commonly used onions for pickling, but you may have difficultly in finding those now, it's getting a bit late.

You can try Paris Silverskin onions and there are plenty of other varieties you can grow from seed. Apart from shallots, you don't generally grow onions for pickling from sets as they grow too large.

[Truffle]

I had some really small onions last year and mentioned to my mum that I was considering pickling them. Apparently you dont use onions for pickled onions you use shallots.

Never looked any further into after that but would also like to know what to grow for pickling. Fingers crossed someone with more knowledge will be along to tell me if my mother was right and what to grow and do.

whilst typing this I see DD has confirmed that my mum may have been right 

[DD.]

You can use small onions for pickling, it just that you generally hope the ones you plant as sets grow a bit bigger than that!

[noshed]

Last time I was in Wilkos, they still had some shallot sets.

[jay001]

we were out yesterday and came across shallot sets in one of the poundland shops if you have any near you you might pick some up there,as dd said for pickling try paris silverskin . . mine are going in a pot today   

[crh75]

Direct sow some onion seed this month and don't thin them too much (2 inch max spacing).

[Kleftiwallah]

'Tis not the onions / shallots you choose, but 'tis the recipe you use to prepare them.  Don't forget a couple of chillies!

Cheers,   Tony.

[Franceska]

I've ordered Paris Silver Skin and Early Bedfordshire Champions - seeds that is.  I'll pick up some shallots to mix with the onions when I'm pickling.  The onions I always see in jars in the store are those little round ones - which I believe are Paris Silver Skin - but I'm only guessing!  Can't wait to get started!  Thanks for all of your help!