Growing Spring onions, also Scallions, Bunching onions, Welsh onion

Allium fistulosum : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
      S S S S          
        T T T T        
        P P P P        

(Best months for growing Spring onions in Australia - tropical regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 20°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: Plant close together
  • Harvest in 8-12 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Lemon Balm, Borage, Carrots, Beets, Silverbeet, Lettuce, Amaranth
  • Avoid growing close to: Peas, Beans

Your comments and tips

17 Jul 10, Morgoth (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I saved some root ends (cut off only about 1.5 centimetres from the end) from store-bought scallions planted them (I'm calling these cut-off roots 'rootlings') and they grew really well (I think it was summer when I did this).
15 Jun 10, Michele -- Launceston (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
HELP?? Have let some spring onions grown on .... now look like leeks on steroids with bulbs as big as a regular brown onion. Should I use them or chuck them out?? Any hints on how to use them?? I do make my own tomato relish, sauce and chutney. Can I use some of the sprin onion instead?? Just not sure what to do ... don't like wasting food
16 Jun 10, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Michele, I would use them. So long as the stems haven't gone hard (woody) then they should be perfectly ok. If they are woody, then they won't be very edible, but could still add flavour if you remove them from the mix after cooking.
10 Feb 10, trevor (Australia - temperate climate)
I have trouble growing spring onions from seed. i plant them directly in the ground and also in a mini greenhouse using seed raising mix. both plantings don't seem to produce. WHY?
02 Sep 10, Cygnetian (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Trevor, Have you tried planting the roots cut off from purchased spring onions? You cut them off about 1.5 cm from the base and then plant them. Works for me. :)
30 May 10, Diana (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi! I live in Adelaide where the summer is really hot. Is your place really hot in Febuary? I sowed spring onion seed during summer and had very poor germination rate almost none. However since End summer germination rate 80-99%. Usually in the seed packet it says you could sow all year round. But I think if it is too hot the seed won't germinate.
08 Feb 10, Adrian (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
A simple suggestion for would-be spring onion growers! Instead of all the cost, hassle and time that it takes to get a crop of spring onions from seed, I just buy myself a bunch of thin spring onions at the supermarket and plant them 3 inches apart in well mulched and limed soil. The last bunch I bought had 45 plants which I planted yesterday and will be ready to progressively use in 10 days time, when they have thickened a bit, for some 4-6 weeks. It's fool proof and guaranteed to give you an instant spring onion patch. Even though it may be cheating a little. Cost $1.99 compared to $4.95 for a packet of seed.
15 Sep 09, Alison (Australia - temperate climate)
Spring onions in Victoria are known as shallots in NSW. Very bloody confusing. As a cook, I wouldn't worry too much about it unless in Asian cuisine when the long skinny ones with green bits (Victoria vs NSW ... again! ...hehehe) are preferred.
21 Aug 09, klyie (Australia - temperate climate)
I have been growing spring onions for a while and have just noticed bubble like flowers om the tips of some stems. Should I be cutting these off???
21 Aug 09, Susan (Australia - temperate climate)
Spring onions and shallots are two different things. Shallots (also known as French shallots) are like smallish onions (just a bulb) whereas spring onions don't have a big bulb and include the long green shoots (leaves). I think spring onions are called green onions in the US.
Showing 41 - 50 of 55 comments

Trying to grow these from seed is difficult. The tiny seedlings are easy to lose as well. Honestly just buy a bunch from a shop, cut the bottoms off about an inch long them put them into potting mix. You'll have usable tops within a month. Far, far easier than trying to grow from seed. I had aso failed to grow from seed many times, and then realised I wasted my time with that. They take very readily as cuttings from mature plants.

- Tom

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