Spring onions are quick and easy to plant and are a great addition to salads and stir-fries. If harvested before the fruit has thickened, they have a milder flavor than ripe onions, and the whole plant, including the bulb and leaves, can be used in cooking. They don't require a lot of space or soil, making them perfect for growing in a smaller space or in a container. This fast-growing herb is very easy to care for and looks great in pots on the kitchen counter.
How can you plant spring onions yourself?
No matter how big or small your space is, scallions are a great herb to have on hand and grow quickly from seed. Here's how to get started.
Sowing spring onions
Spring onions are easy to plant from seed and thrive in any fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Prepare the soil by clearing it of weeds and stones and providing it with a good fertilizer in good time. Rake the soil smooth so the surface has a fine, crumbly texture and water 24 hours before sowing if it is very dry. Use a stick or the tip of a trowel to make shallow grooves in the ground. Sow the seeds in the grooves about 20mm deep and 10cm apart and cover with soil. Cover the ground with fleece to prevent birds from uprooting the young seedlings as they appear.
Water regularly during dry periods to keep the soil moist. However, do not water too much as this could make the plants susceptible to diseases such as powdery mildew.
Keep the bed free of weeds by weeding it by hand regularly. Green onions have shallow roots that can be damaged by chopping.
To get a continuous harvest in summer, sow them three weeks apart from March to August. To overwinter spring onions, sow them in September and harvest in spring.
You can also grow them in trays or pots. But choose a container with good drainage holes and fill it with good potting soil. Scatter the seeds on the surface and cover them with 1.5 cm of compost. Pour only enoughthat the compostis moistened. Wait until the seedlings have developed a good root system before planting them in the garden.
How and when to harvest spring onions?
Spring onions are usually ready to harvest eight weeks after sowing. They are ready when the plants are about 6 inches tall and the bulbs are less than 1 inch in diameter.
Dig the soil around the plants a little before pulling out the small, leafy bulbs. Grab the leaves where they meet the bulb. Rotate it half a turn and pull it up until the white part is sticking out of the soil. If the bulbs are growing in dense soil, you may need a trowel or spade to loosen the roots before pulling them out.
Spring onions are best used immediately after harvest, either cooked or raw, but can be stored in sealed plastic bags in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
If you have more green onions than you can eat, don't worry. Cut them, freeze them on parchment paper, then place the frozen pieces in an airtight container in the freezer, where they will last for about six months. Just remember that they are best suited for cooking and will not retain their crunchy texture for salads or garnishes once thawed.
Growing spring onions in water
If you don't have space to grow green onions outdoors, you can also grow purchased green onions indoorsRe-grow in a glass with water, so you always have a supply of tasty leaves for cooking.
- Select the green bulbs that still have some roots at the base of the plant.
- Cut the spring onions about 2 to 3 cm from the root.
- Place the root end of the cutting in a clear glass jar and fill it with water so that the white stems of the plants are submerged. Place them in a sunny spot and change the water every 2-3 days to keep it fresh.
- Cut off the green leaves of each plant if you need them for cooking and leave the root in the water to grow fresh leaves.
Planting green onions: diseases and pests
Aphids are the most common pest on spring onions. They are small and sometimes difficult to spot because they camouflage so well with the foliage. Treat them with a soap-based spray.
Mildew can sometimes be a problem, especially in humid conditions. Be sure to space plants well apart to allow air to circulate and treat with a fungicide if necessary.
