Spring onions
Quick and easy to grow, spring onions provide a continuous harvest of mild, pungent green stems and small white bulbs. Perfect for salads, stir-fries, and garnishes.
Spring onions seeds
£1.49 in the shop
Calendar
Sow
March – September, direct outdoors every 2-3 weeks for continuous supply
Plant out
Direct sow where they are to grow
Harvest
May – November (from spring sowing); March – April (from autumn sowing)
Conditions
Sun
Full sun to partial shade, 4–8 hours a day
Water
Keep consistently moist; essential for tender growth and to prevent bolting
Soil
Fertile, well-draining, pH 6.0–7.0
Spacing
2–3cm (1 inch) between plants in rows, 15cm (6 inches) between rows (or broadcast sow)
Containers
Excellent for containers, window boxes, or even regrowing in a glass of water from root ends
Indoors
Can be grown year-round in pots on a sunny windowsill, though outdoor crops are usually more vigorous
Care and harvest
Feeding
Generally not required if soil is fertile; a dilute liquid feed can boost growth if needed
Pruning
Not required
Harvesting
Pull up individual plants when they are pencil-thick, or snip leaves from established plants
Storage
Best used fresh. Can be stored in the fridge in a sealed bag for up to a week.
Good companions: Carrots, Lettuce, Cabbage