Ramps, Spring Onion, Scallion

[schoenfelderp]

There seem to be many different names but I can't seem to figure out the difference. Are they in fact different? If so, what are the differences?

[Bacardi1]

In my long relationship with these delightful vegetables, "scallions" & "spring onions" are one & the same - "spring onion" being the name used in Asian cultures. It's just semantics - plant is exactly the same.

"Ramps", while still an allium, are a totally different veggie altogether - tiny bulbs, thin reddish stem, wide paper-thin leaves. Not even close to the above.

Then there's the new "young sweet onions" that have been hitting the markets the last few years. These have scallion-type leaves, but have bulbs that are about golf-ball size & are essentially young sweet onions (like "Vidalia", "Texas Sweet", etc., etc.). Great for grilling & serving atop a nice steak.

[cheesemaestro]

To me, scallions and green onions are names for the same thing, but spring onions are something else. Scallions have a nearly uniform width from top to bottom. Spring onions are more like what you call "young sweet onions." They have rounded bulbs that are significantly wider than the stalk and are mainly available in the spring. However, I think that the terminology varies, depending on where one lives.

Ramps are a different animal (well, a different vegetable). How I wish that they were easier to find!

[magiesmom]

We spent the afternoon collecting ramps in our woods and feel very lucky to do so.

[Harters]

As far as I understand these things, ramps are what North Americans call the wild garlic that we Britons call ramsons.

And, in similar vein, I've always understood that scallions are what North Americans call the onion we Britons call spring onions

[drongo]

According to McGee (p. 312), "ramsons" and "ramps" are Allium tricoccum, and "wild leeks" are Allium ampeloprasum. But it's clear that the mapping between common names and species is not rigorous, and that various local conventions differ. McGee lives in California, so his book inevitably presents a North American perspective.

[chefj]

Sounds like Ramsons they are a different plant than Ramps
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramsons
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allium_t...

[chefj]

Ramps have a very distinct taste Sharp and Garlicky not at all like Scallions or Spring onion.

[drongo]

The term “scallion” is applied to Allium cepa or Allium fistulosum or Allium ×proliferum or Allium ×wakegi (the × means it’s not a true species but a hybrid).

The term “ramp” is applied to Allium tricoccum.

The term “spring onion” is applied to both scallions and ramps.

The bottom line is that here (as with many food ingredients) the same common term is applied to several different species and hybrids... so we shouldn't assume they are all the same merely because they have been given the same name.

[magiesmom]

not here in New England. ramps are also referred to as wild leeks.

[sandylc]

Allium tricoccum is a wild leek is a ramp.