A Gardener's Guide to Growing Spring Onions: Tips, Tricks, and Secrets for Success

Growing Spring Onions – Farming Tips, Ideas, Secrets

Growing Spring Onions, Farming Tips, Ideas, and Secrets

Hello friends, we are here with a new topic of growing spring onions. Spring Onions are very easy to grow for subsistent and commercial purposes and consumers like them because they can be used in a variety of recipes. These varieties of Spring Onions are non-bulbing grown from seeds. It is an early and highly productive onion grown for stems rather than bulbs with attractive tasty dark green color leaves. Then, the journey of Spring Onions begins from the nursery and later transplanted in the field for good establishment.

Scientifically Spring Onion called Allium fistulosum. Spring Onion is a species of perennial plant that is considered to be a kind of scallion. Spring Onions are an excellent choice because it is tasty and versatile vegetables that only need minimal space and effort. It tastes like a muted version of the mature onion varietals, only with a much mellower and sweeter flavor.

Spring Onions are similar to scallions or green onions, but they have a small bulb at the base. In England, all green onions are referred to as Spring Onions. Usually, you can grow Spring Onions from seeds or bulbs. Once planted you must keep the soil moist and weed-free to help the plants grow.

Spring Onion mainly provides crisp and crunchy stems that add flavor to salads, stir-fries, and other dishes. Also, they are ideal to grow in pots and containers and ideal to plant in unused small spaces.

Three forms of Spring Onions can be planted by seeds, transplants, and bulbs (or sets);

• Onion seeds give the greatest choice but take the longest to grow up to about 100 to 130 days from sowing the seed.
• Transplants are simply young onions such as seedlings, grown to the scallion stage then bundled for sale.
• Bulbs are small and dormant onions grown from seed the previous season. Then, they will grow to full-sized onions in about 2 months from planting.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Growing Spring Onions, Farming Tips, Ideas, and Secrets

Different Varieties of Spring Onions

The main varieties of Spring Onion are Straight leaf and selections of Straight leaf. They include Dynasty Winter King and Summer King. They are seeded at a rate of about 6 to 10 kg/ha. Spring Onions add interest to many dishes.

The benefit to growing Spring Onions from seed is that you can try varieties not readily available in the supermarket. Choose from solid all-rounders or those best suited to pickling or growing over the winter season. Here are some of our Spring Onion favorites;

• Spring Onion ‘White Lisbon’ – It has a short cropping time and this is a great choice for new gardeners.
• Spring Onion ‘Pompeii’ – It is a rounder shape, this silver-skinned and succulent variety is ideal for pickling and serving on cocktail sticks.
• Spring Onion ‘Apache’ – This Spring Onion adds interest and color to salads.
• Spring Onion ‘Feast F1 Hybrid’- An outstanding all-rounder ideal for successive sowings to be harvested all summer long.

Soil and Climate Requirement for Growing Spring Onions

The light and well-drained soils of the Swan Coastal Plain are ideally suited to grow Spring Onions. The best soil for the Spring Onion crop is slightly acid, with a pH between 5.3 and 5.8 (using calcium chloride to measure the levels).

The Spring Onion produces the highest yields and best quality in the late spring season. However, day length does not affect production so, unlike bulb onions, Spring Onion crop is produced throughout the year. Demand is highest in the summer season, but burnt tops and yellowing can impair quality at this time of year. Winter crops are softer and less vigorous. Plant Spring Onions in a sheltered position since breakage or bending of the green color leaves reduce marketability.

Spacing for Growing Spring Onions

• Single Plants – 10 cm each way (minimum)
• Rows – 10 cm with 10 cm row gap (minimum).

When to Plant Spring Onion Seeds

Sow the first batch of seeds indoors just before the spring season, which is the end of February.  This approach is a lot cheaper than bulbs. It does take up to 3 to 4 weeks for them to germinate. You should sow a new batch of seeds every 3 weeks right up to July for a constant supply of fresh Spring Onions.

Sow Spring Onion Seeds Indoors

• We recommend beginners to sow Spring Onion indoors in October because plants and seedlings are sensitive to the potential frosty weather.
• Sow seeds in trays of compost about ½ an inch deep, covering them with ¼ inch of compost.
• Keep the seeds moist and within a temperature level between 15 to 18°C.
• They must start to germinate from 7 to 14 days.

Sow Spring Onion Seeds Outdoors

• To sow Spring Onion seeds outdoors, sow seeds thinly into shallow drills about 1.5 cm deep, with rows spaced 30 cm apart.
• Water and keep the seed’s environment moist.
• Once the Spring Onion seeds have germinated and developed into a substantial young plant, cover them with cloches.

Step 1) Spring Onions need a soil pH level of 5.3 and 5.8 to grow well. Amend soil with compost or other organic matter. Spring Onions do not like acidic soil.

Step 2) Space the Spring Onion seeds about 2 inches apart to give the bulb room to grow when it matures. You can plant rows about 6 inches apart. When the Spring Onions first start to grow, they will have needle-like fine stalks, but these will soon become larger.

Step 3) Keep the Spring Onions evenly moist and free of weeds. It is best to grow Spring Onions in a weed-free environment. Though, mulch around the plants to retain moisture and then prevent the soil from drying out too quickly. 

Step 4) Spring Onion plants prefer abundant sun and well-prepared, healthy soil with good drainage. If possible, till in aged manure the fall before planting the Spring Onions. Onions are heavy feeders and require constant nourishment to produce big bulbs. If needed, add a natural nitrogen source when planting like fish emulsion or aged compost.

Step 5) Plant Spring Onions as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring, usually March or April. Plant the bulbs about an inch deep and 4 inches apart. Plant no more than 1 inch deep, otherwise, bulb formation can be restricted.

Step 6) Feed the plants every few weeks with nitrogen-rich fish emulsion to get good-sized bulbs. Synthetic nitrogen fertilizer will produce larger bulbs at the expense of flavor. Do not put the soil back around the Spring Onions; the bulb needs to emerge above the soil.

Step 7) Usually, onions have short roots and need about an inch of water per week. Raised beds and rows are good growing locations and it is important to keep onion rows weed-free until they become well established. Also, mulching helps to protect them from weeds competing for water, as well as preventing moisture loss from sun and wind.

Growing Spring Onions in a Pot

• Choose small or large pots. Then, place the pots in full sun and then fill with quality potting mix. 
• Place a few seeds in each pot depending on the pot size and cover them with the potting mix.
• Water the plant well with a rose head-fitted watering can.
• Once seeds are germinated keep them well-watered, but avoid keeping the potting mix too wet.
• Feed them with plant food every few weeks to promote foliage growth.
• Harvest the Spring Onions after 8 to 10 weeks by pulling out the entire plant by holding it at the base of the stem near the ground.

How to Plant Spring Onions in Trays

• Already, the trays should have plenty of drainages.
• Fill your trays with potting compost and then firm it down.
• Make rows about half an inch deep by using your finger and about 3 inches apart.
• Sprinkle the seeds into the rows.
• Cover them with compost and firm down. Water well.
• Leave in a sunny position in a greenhouse if you are lucky enough to have one, or leave in a cold frame. A cold frame is tiny and is made of hard plastic, but it gives the seeds that extra protection from the cold and wind.
• Keep watered and you should see the shoots in about 2 weeks.
• They will be ready to be transplanted after about another 3 weeks of growth.
• Locate them in a warm spot in the garden for a few hours a day to harden them off.
• Prepare the soil in the ground where you want to grow them by digging around it and then adding some fresh compost.
• Rake the soil until it is even and then firms it down.
• Plant the small plants in the ground, making sure the plant roots are secure.
• After that, plant them about 2 inches apart in rows.
• Firm them in with your fingers and then cover them over with soil.

How to Grow Spring Onion in a Garden

• For growing Spring Onions, select a spot in the garden that receives full sun. Enrich the soil with plant fertilizers.
• Make a furrow about 6 mm deep and sprinkle the Spring Onion seeds over the furrow. To get a continuous crop, sow the Spring Onion seeds every week for a few weeks.   
• Cover seeds lightly with soil. To retain moisture, mulch the sown area. Water in to keep the soil moist. 
• Feed every few weeks by fertilizers and harvest them after 8 to 10 weeks by pulling out the entire plant by holding it at the base of the stem near the ground.

Process of Re-growing Spring Onions

Step 1) Cut the Spring Onions and keep the roots. If you have purchased Spring Onions from the store, you can save the roots and then replant them. After you have used the Spring Onions in cooking, cut off the root approximately 1⁄2 inch from the end.

Step 2) Place the roots in water. After you have cut off the roots of the Spring Onions, and place them in water with the shoots sticking up. After few days you will begin to see a bit of new growth. Then, they are then ready to be planted in your garden or small planter.

Step 3) Dig a row of small holes. The holes must be deep enough to completely cover the roots. Space the onions at least 1 inch apart. If you are planting more than one row of onions, the rows should be no less than 6 inches apart.

Step 4) Place one bulb into each hole. The roots should be completely covered and the sprouts must be sticking out of the soil.

When to Water the Spring Onions

Spring Onions like moderate moisture and water the onions when the soil is starting to dry around the onions. Be careful not to overwater the plant or you will get larger onions with a very weak flavor. Spring Onion plants need to be well watered throughout their growth. This is because of their short root length. By keeping the plants well-watered, you sustain them to ensure they produce the best quality crops. Even during cold but dry periods throughout the winter season.

Pests and Diseases Problems for Growing Spring Onions

Monitor your plants for pest and disease problems. Spring Onion plants mature quickly, so they do not suffer from pests as frequently as other onion varieties do. If you do notice pests, and then apply an organic pesticide to the infested crop to kill or ward them off.

Spring Onions mature so fast that they tend not to suffer from some pests and diseases thus in 70 days or less. But in case of any pests and diseases, a farmer should spray by using fungicides. This will eliminate some fungal diseases like mildews. Also, insecticides are good for pests especially onion thrips.

Onion flies can be managed by spreading out your Spring Onion plants as well as pushing down the soil around each plant firmly to prevent the flies from laying eggs. And, another deterrent is to mix a light coating of sand with the soil.

The main disease is in Spring Onions downy mildew, which is especially serious when dew is prevalent on the plants. Though, it is good practice to rotate Spring Onions with other crops which are not in the onion family.

Thrips are a major pest of Spring Onions. These small sucking insects are active in the warmer months and then cause small and white spots on the leaves. Dimethoate or endosulfan will control thrips. Because of their quick-growing habit, pests are not too much of a problem compared to other onion plant varieties.

Onions flies can be a problem in Spring Onions. To combat them, spread out Spring Onion plants and push down the soil around each of the plants to prevent the pests from laying eggs on them. If you notice mold on any of the Spring Onions, remove them so that the rest of the Spring Onion plant is not affected.

Care for Spring Onions

• Spring Onions do not have strict requirements for sunlight, but the plants do need at least partial sun to grow.
• It needs well-drained, humus-rich soil. It requires soil pH levels 5.3 and 5.8.
• Regular watering and a sunny position are required for growing Spring Onions. A liquid fertilizer 2 to 3 times while growing. To keep the leaves green, feed mine diluted seaweed, a weak worm juice made from diluting the liquid from a worm farm, or a compost ‘tea’.
• The companions for Spring Onions are Beetroot, Lettuce, Strawberry, and Chamomile.
• Spring Onion cultivation must be done in the, you guessed it, spring, from March to July. Harvest will be from March to May.
• Spring Onion plants thrive in loose soil that drains well.
• Spring Onions mature quickly and don’t need fertilizer.  If you live in a dry climate which makes moisture a problem, you may need to give the onions a boost with some fertilizer to add nutrients.
• Growing Spring Onions is easy and they take up so little space. Put the seed head in a paper bag and allow it to dry for about 2 weeks.
• Make sure the growing area is free of weeds for growing Spring Onions. If weeds establish in the growing positions, these plants will suffer in their yield potential due to competing for water, nutrients, and space to grow.
• Store them in a cool, dry area. Sow the Spring Onion seeds indoors or out in a prepared bed. Rake the bed clear of debris and stones and then amend the soil with some organic soil conditioner. Spring Onions like well-draining, humus-rich soil and full sun exposure.
• Care of Spring Onions thereafter is minimal. Be sure to provide them with 1 inch of water per week depending upon rainfall. Feed plants with a liquid fertilizer 2-3 times during the growing season. Keep the area around the onions weed-free. You can keep growing Spring Onions year-round either outside or in a greenhouse through succession planting every 3 to 4 weeks for a steady supply of this luscious allium. Your Spring Onions will be mature and ready to eat in between 8 to 12 weeks.