Why do Great Onion Varieties Disappear?

barkeater · January 3, 2013

A few years back I was planting an excellent red onion called Mars. Then I had trouble finding seed a couple years ago. Now it is nowhere to be found! I'm afraid that is now happening with Red Zeppelin which I replaced Mars with. Where I do find it, the companies like Johnny's will only sell you plants, and most of the other retail seed catalogs no longer offer it except a few. Is Red Zeppelin the next to go?

I don't see popular hybrid varieties of other vegetables disappear, so why does it seem to happen with onions?

January 3, 2013	#1
barkeater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NE Kingdom, VT - Zone 3b Posts: 1,439	Why do Great Onion Varieties Disappear? A few years back I was planting an excellent red onion called Mars. Then I had trouble finding seed a couple years ago. Now it is nowhere to be found! I'm afraid that is now happening with Red Zeppelin which I replaced Mars with. Where I do find it, the companies like Johnny's will only sell you plants, and most of the other retail seed catalogs no longer offer it except a few. Is Red Zeppelin the next to go? I don't see popular hybrid varieties of other vegetables disappear, so why does it seem to happen with onions? __________________ barkeater