Sowing and growing spring onion

Sowing and growing spring onions is fun to do and they also look great in your vegetable garden! Not many people know that it is not difficult to grow spring onion. Therefore, here we explain step by step how best to sow spring onion in your vegetable garden.

What is spring onion?

Spring onion, only different from spring onion because of its thinner appearance, is also called green onion. If you let the spring onion grow longer, you will get a spring onion with a larger onion part.

They have a sweet and mild onion flavor and are widely used in Asian cuisine, for example in wok and rice dishes.

The spring onion has long green leaves and looks a bit like a mini leek. In addition, spring from your own vegetable garden is incredibly healthy. Thus, it is rich in vitamins K, C, A and healthy fiber. It is also high in iron, calcium and manganese.

The perfect location for spring onion

Choosing the right location is crucial to growing healthy spring onion. A spot with plenty of sunlight and well-drained soil is ideal. If you plant spring onions in your vegetable garden, make sure you have an area where they are not overshadowed by larger plants.

Spring onion planting in open ground

If you choose to sow spring onion directly in the open ground, make sure the soil is well loosened. This helps the roots to spread properly and absorb nutrients.

When should you sow spring onion?

The ideal time for sowing spring onion varies somewhat by climate zone, but generally it is recommended to start in early spring. In temperate climates, you can start sowing as soon as the frost is out of the ground and the temperature begins to rise. This is usually around late March or early April.

Early start in nursery containers

If you want to get an early start, you can sow the seeds indoors in seed trays as early as February or March. This gives the plantlets a head start and allows them to grow stronger before being moved outside.

Late sowing for longer harvest

You can also sow later in the season, up to even early summer, to ensure a continuous harvest. Sowing spring onion in several stages (succession sowing) allows you to harvest fresh spring onion over a longer period of time.

By keeping these timetables in mind, you will ensure optimal growth and development of your spring onion.

Spring onion sowing: step-by-step

Prepare your sowing location, this can be a seed bed or nursery depending on when you sow. If you sow right outside, then a sunny location in your vegetable garden is needed.
Sow spring onion seeds 0.5 cm deep and 2.5 cm apart. Cover with a layer of soil and moisten the soil.
Keep the soil moist but not too wet until the seeds germinate. This takes about 7 to 14 days.
Thin out the seedlings when they are 5 cm tall so that they are 5 cm apart. This gives them plenty of room to grow.
Give them quality plant food according to the package of your food.

Growing your own spring onion: Tips and tricks

Check regularly for pests and diseases. Spring onions are relatively resistant, but preventive care is always better.
Mulching helps maintain moisture in the soil and reduce weed growth.

Harvesting and enjoying

Spring onion can be harvested when the tops are green and about 15 cm tall. You can simply pull them out of the ground at the base. Enjoy your own homegrown spring onion in a variety of dishes!