[Goldfinger]

Q1, Does anyone know what variety of swede farmers use?

My grandad, when he had his allotment used to get a 35mm camera film holder and fill it with swede seed off farmers that grew them near us. They were the best he could grow, shop bought seed 'couldn't touch them' (his words)!

Q2, OH's has got a 'food' magazine, and there's a small article on onions. It says 'brown' onions are better for storing than 'white' onions, browns are milder and whites are stronger, (I think it's that way round, haven't got mag' at hand to check).

Which variety is which? Thought I'd ask as I haven't bought my onion sets yet and would like a good 'storer' again.

[SnooziSuzi]

Hi goldfinger,

I don't know what variety the farmers use, but I've grown both 'ruby' and 'best of all' into football sized swedes that aren't woody at all. 

I think I also read somewhere about white vs brown onions.  I grew 'bedfordshire' brown skinned onions last year and they're still keeping, whereas the white ones I grew the year before rotted away....

hope this helps
Su

[mumofstig]

This farm seed supplier lists a few. Elsoms

But bear in mind that many new varieties will have been developed since your grandads day.

I think white/pale onions are sweeter

[gobs]

And for the third time: you remember them the long way around.

Anyhow, brown, red, white are not varieties, just colour of skin. You will find a world of difference by varieties.