Walking onions
Perennial onions that make small bulbils at the top of their stems.
Walking onions (Bulbils)
£3.99 in the shop
Calendar
Sow
Autumn or spring from bulbils
Plant out
Replant top bulbils or let them root where they fall; harvest green stems sparingly.
Harvest
Spring–autumn
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
Replant top bulbils or let them root where they fall; harvest green stems sparingly.
Storage
Best used fresh. Can be stored in the fridge in a sealed bag for up to a week.
Good companions: Carrots, Lettuce, Cabbage