Learn how to grow green onions in this detailed article. Growing green onions in containers is easy, this way you can grow them anywhere, year round.
Green onion is one of the most versatile vegetables. From garnishing your food to making it a part of your salad, there are countless ways to consume it. No doubt! And the best part, you can grow this in a very small space, in a DIY container, EASILY.
What are Green Onions?
Green onions are immature onions with green shoots. The green shoots form and grow before the bulb formation.
Green Onion Types
You can grow any onion variety to get the green shoots. Although, the oniony flavor may vary, depending on the type. This article at the kitchn.com will help you understand the difference between scallions or green onions and spring onions.
When to Plant Green Onions
As you’re growing green onions in containers, there is no restriction of planting time. In a cold climate, grow these salad onions from spring to fall (autumn) and with some care, in winters as well. If you live in a warm tropical climate with little to no frost, grow green onions year round.
Choosing a Pot
A shallow pot that is no more than 6-8 inches deep and as wide as you like is enough to plant green onions in pots. Maintain 1 1/2 to 2 inches of spacing between each onion set or bulb. This way you’ll be able to grow around 8 green onion plants in a 12 inches wide pot.
Planting Green Onions
Planting green onions from seeds is not a smart idea, plants grown from seeds take the longest time to become mature enough to provide the harvest. We suggest growing green onions from sets or transplants. Or, from the onion bulbs in your home, you buy for consumption.
You can use red, white, or yellow onion bulbs. Sharpness and a little bit of flavor vary!
There are two ways to plant green onions in containers:
Method One
- It is simple, place the root side down and top pointy side up and cover the bottom part with no more than 2 inches of soil, leaving the remaining bulb above the soil.
- Space the bulb 1 or 2 inches apart in the pot.
Method Two
- Make a planting hole according to the size of your onion bulb.
- Shift the onion bulb into the hole in a way that the root side must be facing down and the top part facing up.
- Cover it with a 1-inch layer of soil.
Planting Green Onions from Scraps
Whenever you buy a bunch of green onions, don’t throw away their root parts. Chop the leaves for your use and save the tender green onion bulbs with at least an inch of green part left along. Plant them!
Also Read: How to Grow Green Onions in Water
How to Grow Green Onions
Location
Place the containers in full sun or part sun, where they remain warm. If growing green onions indoors, keep them near the bright window that receives at least 4 hours of direct sunlight.
Soil
Any well-drained potting soil that is light and loamy is perfect. Additionally, mix one-third part of compost or well-rotted manure to it to make it nutrient rich.
Water
Keep the soil well-watered and evenly moist. Water regularly but avoid overwatering and sogginess.
Fertilizer
No feeding required if you already added the compost or manure in the soil. However, if your leafy onion greens are not doing well, consider applying half-strength balanced liquid fertilizer.
Pests and Diseases
You don’t need to worry much about pests and diseases as you’re growing greens onions in containers. Regular pests like aphids and thrips might be seen rarely if you’ll place the pots in the garden. But you can easily remove them by your hand.
Harvesting Green Onions
Within 3-4 weeks you’ll start to harvest your homegrown green onions. Pick the ones that are at least 6-8 inches tall. Follow the cut and come again method–Trim off the fresh green tops leaving at least an inch of green shoot above the soil. They come back again, again, again, and again. Add the chopped leaves to salads, pasta, noodles, chutney, scrambled eggs, naans, etc.
A Tip: For a continuous harvest, do succession planting.
Moronic. The first pic isn’t been green onions