The few times I tried to grow onions, I purchased starts. These are small onions, someone grew from seed and let go into Winter. The tops died off, the tiny bulbs (sets) were sent to me, when I ordered them. I planted them, upon reciept, in Spring, and, in Fall, I bent all the green tops down and allowed the onions to ripen up and the tops to turn dry and yellow. I am sure I could have left some to go to seed. I think the mature onions might have gone through the Winter, without rotting in the ground, and bloomed, but I am not sure. It seems reasonable that planting any fresh looking onion, when Spring starts, would result in flowers and, eventually, seed. One or two onions would have given me plenty of seed. Seems like a lot of trouble, but some people love the challenge. I am sure, in less technological days, people in different regions went through the tedious process over generations, giving us the distinctive varieties catalogs list. I would expect some of the Amish and Hutterites are still maintaining the old traditions.

Give this section a try. It's all they do is onions.

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/allium/

does anyone know where preagent sea onions can be found? thank you for your kind responce