Spring Onion
Spring Onion White Lisbon
One of the most popular spring onion varieties, much loved for it fast growing, succulent and deliciously mild tasting stems. These versatile spring onions can be used in salads, soups, stir-fries and all sorts of other savoury dishes. Easily grown in the smallest of spaces they are also ideal for raised beds and patio containers.
Growing Advice
Sow Indoors
Spring onions should be sown outdoors, directly where they are to grow.
Sow Outdoors
Sow outdoors March to July. Sow thinly 1.5cm deep directly where they are to grow, in rows spaced 15cm apart. Keep the soil moist and weed free at all times. Seedlings should start to appear approximately 7-21 days. Thin out if necessary by harvesting alternate onions from the row. It is good practice to water well after thinning out, to wash any dislodged soil back around the roots of the remaining plants. Sow a new row every 2-3 weeks to extend your harvest period. Early sowings will benefit from cloche protection.
Top Tips About Seeds
- Once the seed packet has been opened, the seeds can be stored in an airtight container until required for further sowings.
- Spring onion seeds are best used fresh and although there are lots of seeds in a packet, repeated sowings through the summer is highly recommended so they are unlikely to last more than one season.
Growing in Containers
Spring onions can quite easily be grown in large patio tubs or containers. Especially if just grown for young pencil thick stems. Be sure to keep the compost moist at all times.
Common Problems
Spring onions rarely suffer from any significant problems. Onion fly may possibly attack weak and unhealthy plants but regular watering and weeding should be more than enough to ensure a healthy crop.
Harvest
Harvest from May to October. Spring onions can be picked and used at any stage of development, from seedlings to mature plants.
Ideas on how to use your Spring Onion
When thinning out just take alternate plants as they start to get overcrowded, allowing the remainder to grow on, these thinnings can be used in the same way as mature plants. It is well worth trimming and then freezing any surplus stems as spring onions keep very well in the freezer and can just be chopped up and used whenever they are required.
