How to Grow Spring Onions (Scallions)
Home-grown spring onions from red onion/shallot
Let me first start off by saying that gardening is not my hobby and I don’t know much about plants care. Over the years, I have killed more plants than kept them alive. I relied on others to take care of my plants. I rather play virtual gardening games than take care of my real plants. The reason why I still tried to grow plants is probably due to my love for cooking – I like to grow edibles so that they can come in handy for my cooking and photo shoots (for example, I use homegrown mint for garnishing desserts). Therefore, I apologise in advance for not being able to give any good advice on plant care. Despite my lack of expertise, I would still like to share about some edibles which I grow regularly. For a start, here’s a step-by-step guide to growing spring onions.
Like Noob Cook on Facebook | Recipe Updates via Email |
For the uninitiated, spring onions are grown from shallots or red onions. In the photo above, you can see that my onion has already sprouted on its own as I’ve left it unused for too long. Usually, we will discard the sprouted onion/shallot but you know what, they are actually the easiest and fastest for growing spring onions because the process has already started. You can use unsprouted onion/shallot too but they will take a slightly longer time to grow. You can try asking the vegetable grocer if they can give you some sprouted onions/shallots at the wet market if you are buying other stuff from them since they will be discarded anyway. The onion bulb is actually the food for the plant, so the bigger the bulb, the better your spring onions will grow. The bulb will shrink over time as the shoots absorb the nutrients from the bulb.
In a pot of soil, dig a hole to submerge the onion/shallot. If you are growing more than 1 bulb, do leave a good space between them.
Cover the bulb with soil such that only the top is showing. Water the plant daily with some exposure to sunlight.
This is what my pot of spring onions looked like after a month. They are not the best looking spring onions in the world, but they are definitely edible and grown without pesticides or chemicals. May I say they are organic?
Notes
Most places use the terms ‘spring onion’ & ‘scallion’ interchangeably. However, some make a distinction between the two – scallions do not have a bulb whereas spring onions do, though both belong to the onion family. Going by this definition, the spring onion sold in Singapore will be more accurately termed scallions though we always call them spring onions. In the post title, I’m using the terms interchangeably.
| If you enjoy this article, please share, tks! |     |
{ 57 comments… read them below or add one }
Do spring onions come from garlic also? I had this one clove of garlic from a bulb I’ve had for a couple weeks now, and yesterday it had some green sprouting out of it! I just cut it off and used the rest of the garlic…
I’m not an expert but I don’t think the sprouts from the garlic is the same thing :)
Roxan, maybe u could leave it for a while and it will become leeks?! hehe
Garlic sprouts are lovely
Definitely organic!
Hello Wiffy ^^
You know, I was very shocked when I first came to Portugal and found no spring onions sold at the supermarkets here…
So I had no choice but grow my own spring onions at home.
But the spring onions here are rather thin and weak, so I killed em after a few months… -_-
But then, after seeing this article of yours, I feel like I wanna start growing em again! Cause spring onions are a must for Asian dishes! ^_-
no spring onions in Portugal? oh no >_< Hope you have great success growing them again, use bigger onions/shallots for more lush spring onions.
Thanks for your comment on my blog, Wiffy!
Happy Valentine’s Day to you too! ^^ Hope you had a great time with your loved one ^^
Well, in fact there are spring onions in Portugal, but they are a different kind… So yes, I’ll have to start growing my own spring onions again.
Wish me luck ^_-
How long did it take for your onion to sprout?
this particular onion sprouted soon after buying… like within one week… but usually I think it takes a few weeks for them to sprout on their own.
it’s true though that spring onions are probably easiest to plant! Well done on some fresh veges from your garden!
This is such a great idea! i often need just a few stalks in my cooking and end up wasting all the rest of the bunch. now i remember, my mother used to do just that!
Hi Wiffy, what type of soil do you use and how often do you need to water them ? Thanks.
Hi Lorraine, I use normal, cheap potting mix. If I’m not wrong, it’s less than S$2 for a pack. I water the pot once a day.
Hi wiffy,
Thank for sharing, this is wat i want! thanks again!
Btw once it grow. we only cut wat we needed or pluck all out?
Do they continue to grow if we only cut wat is needed?
It didn’t seem to continue growing from where I cut. I basically cut whenever I need, and after it’s used up, I plant new ones.
wow! i have rosemary and mint at home (basil = dying, thyme = died T_T), we generally get free scallion when buying veg from the market, but it would be nice to grow my own…and i always want to grow coriander, wondering if it’s easy to grow…
I grew coriander from seeds before. They were really mini, but they have the distinctive fragrance, you can definitely try it during summer :D
my son did this for his nursery class and the spring onion grew quite tall. however after we transferred it from water/cotton based to soil, it died…
any way, if you don’t want to use soil, you can always use a damp cotton wool and let the onion sit on it… just keep the wool damp by watering at least once a day.
I’m definitely inspired to grow my own herbs now :)
Hi there, thanks for inspiring me again. I just plant one pot of it and two pot of Garlic. Hopefully all three of them will grow well.
Wow! Growing your ingredients now eh? Good on you. My sis who is an awesome cook also grows mint leaves I believe….for garnishing…like u!
NC, I’m not a gardener either, but I manage to keep a couple of herbs alive year round, e.g. rosemary, sage, thyme. I have only tried growing scallions once, years ago, and, somehow, got lazy and gave it up. Your efforts have inspired me to start growing them again. I mean, it’s free, it’s fun, and it’s food.
Looking at this I want to plant too but I don;t think they can survive in this cold weather. Maybe I should plant them inside the house :D
The only thing that grows in my apartment is dust bunnies….So lucky yoiu can.
Funny that I have a bulb right now that has sprouted and it has been sitting in my kitchen counter. It is however a yellow onion not the red one. But I’m glad I came your post, now I could go ahead and plant it. Thanks for the inspiration.
I think it will still work, good luck! :)
This is a great idea. This would be great for garnishes. I always buy a bunch from the market just for garnishing, and end up only using a stalk or two. The rest goes to the waste bin. I think you have green fingers tho, for edible plants. Way better than decorative plants!
I’m a gardner who worked on an organic farm where we grew baby greens, flowers and some vegetables for high end restaurants in NYC. Right now anything that can bring some spring and green into the house is welcome!
As for scallions not having a bulb…I have to correct you and say that the white part is considered the bulb. It may not show a roundness to it, but it is the bulb portion of the plant. Same with leeks.
Garlic you could plant in a pot and get what they call garlic scapes…the tall and wispy, unruly shoot that will flower and it can be used in all sorts of dishes.
If you’re interested in trying to grow onions of the spring variety…now’s the time to order them. Try Johnny’s Seeds in Albion, Maine. I used to get my seeds from them when I was working on the farm.
They also have this onion sprout that is awesome! Sprinkle over a tray of soil, give some warmth and moisture and the seeds should sprout. Seeds don’t need light, only moisture and warmth to sprout…once sprouted, they need light. Johnny’s gives you directions on sprouts and is a great source for seeds.
http://www.johnnysseeds.com
For non-gardeners, sprouts and baby greens and lettuces are easy to grow with minimal effort other than making sure you keep them moist.
Hi wiffy
Do u know how to grow pandan leaves?
I have never grew pandan from seeds before. I just buy a plant from the nursery and try to keep it alive :p
I’ve never grown them, if you’re asking me. Sorry…can’t help with that. I grow the usual lettuces, chives, garlic, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers…but for more exotic items, I have to defer to the grocers in my area.
I wish I could plant something but I don’t have a garden or even space for it.. I hope to grow my own colourful vegetables next time ;)
I don’t have a garden too. I grew my plants in pots at the common corridor. If you have a window ledge or balcony, you can try ;)
Recently we learned from our Korean neighbor who had a trough of spring onions on the balcony. She said she buys spring onions from the market, use the top part and planted the bottom part with the roots and they grow just like that. Isn’t it wonderful to eat the top part and plant the bottom part, nothing go to waste. We tried it and it is growing. Need watering everyday.
This is something new to me, I have to try it out next time. Thanks for sharing.
Wiffy, how fun watching the springs come out…I plant the green onions that I buy at the market, buy inserting the roots in the soil and always have fresh green onions :-) Will have to try with onion as well.
Now you’ve tempted me to grow my own spring onions! Very useful plant to have around the house, definitely.
What a coincidence! I grow my own spring onions too! I used to buy from the local supermarket but I don’t finish them so 70% goes into the bin. Now I grow my own, cut whatever amount I want, no waste. I started off with shallot growing but the spring onions were too thin to withstand the strong wind. Now I use big onions.
Thanks for the step by step photos, I definitely do not have a green thumb :) but I agree it’s useful to grow edibles at home.
Great sharing!
When I buy scallions or spring onions back home, I often cut the roots with the stem above and plant them in soil, then cook and eat the green leaves first. After a few days I could eat some more grown from the pots. Double what I bought.
You’re too humble. I have zero knowledge about plant care and don’t have green fingers on planting as well. :( Currently our flat is under major upgrading work. Hopefully when the work is over, I will give it a try. ;_
Your spring onions look great! I do the same with cloves of garlic. After planting them, they grow nice green shoots that can be used like chives.
Once upon a time, i too, planted my own spring onions… :)
Your spring onion is very prosperous looking!
woh, I didn’t know that! I always throw away onions/garlic that grows green stuff.
These are really good tips! I always buy a pack of spring onions and waste half of it as I don’t finish them in time before they turn yellow. Likewise, sometimes it happens for my ginger and onions.
Now I know I can try to plant them!
The spring onions or scallions sold here in US comes with the roots too, the white part. I just cut them and put it in water or soil and the greens will shoot out too. I have eaten a lot of scallions from just replanting the scallions I bought.
LOL this reminds me of what i did when i was young. I used to place small onions that would sit nicely on top (so that the water is not exposed) of those old containers (meant to hold camera films rolls) filled with water. The roots will start growing first then i will see spring onions after a while! :D Well then again i just grew it for fun, i threw it away eventually :X
Thank you! I just planted my red onion that had “sprouted” when I put it in my “recycling” bowl. I was wondering HOW I should plant it – so I just dug a whole, used my miracle grow – and then found your site! Exactly what I was looking for – the pictures were helpful and so were your comments!
that’s great to hear! glad you found the post useful, thanks!
that happend to me too but i’ve still let them planted for 2 months and it sprouted a flower on the tip of the leaves
Can I know what fertilizer you use for mint. Do spring onions need fertilizers too? If yes what kind? I have the usual red liquid food fertilizer which I wonder whether it can be used on these plants too? Thanks
Only recently have I seen the term Spring Onion called for in recipes online. After some looking I have leaned that Scallions and Spring Onions are two different plants. A Scallion’s bulb is straight while a Spring Onion’s bulb is round and looks like
a small white onion and that’s exactly what a Spring Onion is a baby White Onion!
I suppose a Red Onion could be grown as a Spring Onion provided it was grown from seed. However, the Red Onion in the photo is too mature for a Spring Onion.
You have confused your types of onions.
Spring onion, Scallion, Green onion, Salad onion = long thin type with no bulb.
These terms are interchangeable depending on region etc, but all refer to the type of long onion without bulb. Here is a picture of this kind http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/images/food_16x9_608/foods/s/spring_onion_16x9.jpg
You have pictured an onion with a bulb, which is definitely not any of the above kinds.
A shallot is a small onion that looks like this.
Hi Wiffy,
Wondering if you have experience growing chilli, and if so,can you PLEEEEASE post them? Like you, I am more a plant murderer than gardener, so your success stories on mint an spring onions inspire me to try, try again. Of course, using these ingredients regularly, but sparingly makes growing my own more economical than buying bags of condiments, and letting them rot due to underuse.
Thanks so much!! (Hope you try, and are successful!)
Hi, sorry I have bad experience with growing chilli too, as they are susceptible to pests. So I killed all my previous chilli plants T_T
Sincerely,I really enjoyed reading from you.for the two things I read from how to grow mint leave and spring onion or scallion.I have gotten enough.I will definitely put it into practise.I hope to get more details of planting from you,because I enjoy fresh grown vegetables.And with these I can go anywhere with my plant when am relocating from an apartmemt to another.Thanks