How to Grow Green Onions
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Green Onions are Also Known As…
Spring onions or scallions, green onions are no different than regular onions, as they are just the immature stage that is used before it can fully develop a root bulb. Used as a vegetable, green onions can be eaten raw or cooked, and have a milder taste than most fully developed onions.
To eliminate the guesswork in selecting the right size containers for your plants, we’ve put together a list of commonly grown herbs, veggies, fruit and flowers along with the minimum pot sizes required by each.
Starting a container garden? Grab my free guide on choosing the best sized pots for each veggie, fruit, and herb in your container garden – Veggie Garden Potting Guide
Planting Green Onions
Grow green onions in a medium to large pot, sowing seeds over moist soil. Green onions can either be sown 2-5 cm (1-2″) apart, or grown in clumps by sprinkling several seeds close together. Cover with 1/2-1 cm (1/4″-1/2″) of soil.
Plant any time from April to late August, and if kept under cover can be grown through the winter. Seeds should sprout in 6-12 days.
Watering Green Onions
Keep well watered, and well fertilized. Mix in a granulated fertilizer at planting time, or fertilize every few weeks with a liquid all purpose fertilizer.
Where Can I Grow It?
Grow green onions outdoors in a bright sunny location. Onions can overwinter outdoors in zone 3 and higher.
Green Onion Growing Tips
Green onions are ripe for the picking before bulbs form approximately 60 days after planting, depending on the variety. Harvest by pulling them right out of the ground.
Most people harvest them once they are at least 1/2″ thick or anywhere from 8-12″ tall.
Green onions are best when used fresh, but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Companion Planting
Onions in general get along well with other vegetables commonly found in the urban garden. Planting green onions together with any of the following will have beneficial results: beets, Brassicas (such as broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower), carrots, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, strawberries, dill, mint, marigolds, lettuce, and pansies.
Onions do not grow well alongside beans or peas, so avoid planting them together if you can.
Hi Brie, I am also gardening on my urban Canadian balcony. How do I overwinter the green onions? Should they be cut down to the white part? Or an inch or two above the soil? Or should the whole plant be left in tact? Thanks.