Hi Carmellia Â

I live in near Mantorville, so weÂre practically neighbors! I donÂt know any place in our neck-of-the-woods that sell pearl onions specifically. I am unclear if pearl onions are a specific type or just a common variety that might be a short day instead of a long day. I have been growing a variety of onions for years, but have always used either plants or seeds. I dislike using sets (the bulbs); they never make really good onions and they store poorly. The best source I have found for seeds is on the Internet from Harvest Moon Farms at http://www.felcopruners.net/Onion%20Seed%20-%20Spring.0.html The BarlettaÂs might do well. If you are using the pearls for pickling you might try Cippolini for a change, I have pickled them many times and people love them. Unfortunately seeds need to be started fairly early, like in February. For storage onions, I always plant Copra because they can store for up to a year in the right conditions. I use plants and get them from Dixondale at http://www.dixondalefarms.com/products.htm. I actually have several bundles left over that you can have if you want to come get them.

Thanks for the info and suggestions. The pearl onions are sometimes called wax onions too. I think it is just a type of onion. They are very small - about the size of a little button mushroom. Sometimes they are used in cocktails - Gibsons I think. I love them pickled.

I thank you for the offer of your extra onions, but I have finally given up trying to grow the full sized variety. I have never ever had luck with them. For some reason, those little wax onions are so much easier to grow. Carmellia