Wakefield Museums and Castles

Although it was a lot warmer this morning, the ground was still very “sticky”. We decided to not walk on the soil.

Over the years we have had problems with the names on the plant labels on the sales barrow fading. We have tried various pens and markers to no avail. Today Carole wrote out some test labels using a variety of new pens to see how long they will survive.

There will also be a new volunteer joining the Medieval Herb Garden team shortly!

Welsh onions have been grown and eaten for hundreds of years. They are used in many different cultures. They are highly popular in East Asia, from Siberia to tropical Asian countries.

Welsh onions are self-fertile, clumping, evergreen plants. They form shallow, fibrous roots. However, they do not form large bulbs like other allium species. They will grow in any moist but well-drained soil, in full sun to partial shade. They grow in any aspect but north-facing.

The green, upright, tubular leaves can reach a height of 3 ft / 1 m. They have a 'clump-spread' of 18 inches / 45 cm.

Welsh onions usually flower between May and August. The flowers grow on the top of the tall, hollow stems, above the leaves. The flowers are arranged in a terminal, globe-shaped cluster, similar to chives. They can be 1.2 to 2.8 inches / 3 cm to 7 cm in diameter.

Individual flowers are typically greenish-white or ivory-white. They often appearing with a yellowish tint due to the colour of the anthers and pollen. Each small flower is narrowly bell-shaped (campanulate) to urn-shaped (urceolate), with six tepals. The stamens and the style are long. This makes the flowerhead look 'spiky'. The seeds are small and black. They will readily germinate.

Welsh onions have a mild, onion-like flavour. However, their unique features make them distinct from their close relatives the common onions (Allium cepa), leeks (Allium ampeloprasum), chives (Allium schoenoprasum) and garlic (Allium sativum).

The Japanese name naganegi (長葱), means 'long onion'. In South Korea it called pa (파, 'scallion'). Common onions are called yangpa (양파 or 'western scallion').

In Chinese culture Welsh onions symbolise intelligence. They are often referenced in proverbs and idioms associated with cleverness.

China is the top producer of Welsh onions. It has an estimated production area of over 2,000 square miles.

When the plant flowers, it provides rich sources of nectar and pollen. The flowers attract various pollinators including bees, flies and butterflies. The plant's habitat can also support natural predators such as minute pirate bugs (Orius vicinus), lacewings and predatory mites.

A number of insects are known to be pests of Welsh onions. These include the Allium leaf miner (Phytomyza gymnostoma), onion maggot (Delia antiqua), onion aphid (Neotoxoptera formosana), onion thrips (Thrips tabaci), western flower thrips (Frankliniella intonsa), beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua) and common cutworm (Spodoptera litura). They also include leafminer species like Liriomyza chinensis and Liriomyza huidobrensis and black bean aphid (Aphis fabae).

Welsh onions are used in traditional medicine for colds and catarrh, digestion, abdominal pains, diarrhoea and parasites. They are also used to relieve inflammation and arthritis.

They were used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine. The plant was valued for its 'warming' and 'detoxifying' properties.

Welsh onions were often prepared in teas, with ginger. It was drank to induce sweating and clear congestion during the early stages of a cold.

We now know that Welsh onions have antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-obesity, antihypertensive and immune-boosting properties.

*As always, this isn't to be considered medical advice today. Please don't use any plants mentioned in these blogs as medicine without advice from a doctor.