How To Grow Spring Onions

More people are growing their food at home. This guide will show you how to grow spring onions. You can plant them in soil or use kitchen scraps. Spring onions add flavour to many dishes and help reduce waste.

By following our tips, you can grow your spring onions. This way, you can enjoy fresh, home-grown onions in no time.

Key Takeaways

• Spring onions can be harvested in just eight weeks after sowing.
• Ensure proper spacing of approximately 10cm apart when sowing seeds.
• Some varieties produce mature bulbs, offering versatility in cultivation.
• Sow seeds every few weeks from early spring to autumn for continuous harvesting.
• Altering your sowing technique can lead to year-round growth.

What Are Spring Onions and Their Benefits?

Spring onions, known as scallions or green onions, are loved in many cuisines. They add a mild flavour to dishes, making them taste better. Their long, green stalks and small white bulbs make them unique.

Understanding Spring Onions

Spring onions grow well when planted close together. This method can lead to multiple harvests from a small pot. After 20 weeks, some onions still have flavourful bulbs and tender stems, perfect for small spaces.

Health Benefits of Spring Onions

Spring onions are full of vitamins and minerals. A 100g serving has:

Spring onions are great for your health. They’re full of fibre, which helps with digestion. They also have potassium, which is good for your heart.

Spring onions boost your immune system and can help fight cancer. They’re also good for your skin. Adding them to your meals can make you healthier and help you lose weight.

How to Grow Spring Onions from Kitchen Scraps

Regrowing spring onions from kitchen scraps is a fun and green way to garden. It cuts down on waste and gives you fresh greens for cooking. You can have green onions whenever you want with a few easy steps.

Simple Methods for Regrowing

To start, cut the bulbs just above the roots, leaving an inch at the bottom. This helps them grow back well. There are two main ways to regrow spring onions:

1. Water Method:Put the roots in a small jar, ensuring the roots are in water and the tops dry. Change the water at least once a week to keep them healthy. For best results, change the water every 2-3 days.
2. Soil Method:You can also plant the bulbs in good potting soil, halfway down. This method makes the onions thicker and more nutritious. Move them to soil when about 5 inches tall for better nutrition.

Spring onions do well in small pots because of their shallow roots. A 2-quart pot can hold 5-7 green onions. This way, you avoid throwing away half-used bunches and enjoy growing plants that might even flower for salads.

Learning to grow spring onions from scraps is good for your wallet and the planet. One onion can yield 2-5 harvests, adding healthy greens to your meals. It’s a great way to start a gardening habit.

Planting Spring Onions in Soil

Planting spring onions in the soil is easy and rewarding. Choose a container or garden bed with good drainage. Use high-quality potting soil for a strong start. Add organic matter to the soil to boost nutrients.

Plant the bulbs an inch deep and four to six inches apart. This spacing helps with air circulation, which is key for growth. Different onion varieties need different daylight hours. Long-day onions need more than 14 hours, while day-neutral ones prefer 12 to 14 hours.

Keep the soil moist but not too wet. Aim for an inch of water each week to prevent moisture stress. You’ll see growth in about six days and a full harvest in 20 days.

For quicker results, use onion sets. They grow in a few weeks. Slips, or thin seedlings, also grow faster than seeds. Space them four inches apart in good soil.

Spring onions are ready when the bulbs are big and the green tops turn brown. Cure the onions for seven to ten days before storing them. This keeps them fresh and flavorful.

Caring for Spring Onion Plants

Understanding the needs of spring onion plants is key for their growth. It’s important to keep the soil moist but not too wet. Give them about 0.5 cups of water every nine days for potted plants, especially if they’re not in direct sunlight.

Adjust your watering based on the season and where they are. This ensures they stay healthy.

Watering and Nutrient Needs

Spring onions need the right nutrients to grow well. Most potting soils are good at first, but adding organic fertilisers or compost helps a lot. Watch for signs like yellow leaves or wilting to know if they need more nutrients.

If your spring onions grow a lot, it’s time to repot them. This adds back lost nutrients and helps them grow even more.

Always check on your plants’ health. Spring onions love lots of sunlight, especially from a south-facing window. By regularly checking their moisture and nutrient levels, you help them grow. This also means you’ll have a steady supply of fresh spring onions for your cooking.