They are also great to have as they add lots of great flavors to dishes and salads!
Many people don’t realize that you can grow these vegetables from seed, but all members of the onion family can be grown from seed very easily!
We’re here to give you some guidance on how best to grow scallions and green onions from the seed. Let’s dive in!
Green Onions VS Scallions
Green onions and scallions are the same vegetables. There is just one minor difference between the two.
Green onions are more mature than scallions. This means that they will have a very small bulb at their base. Scallions are the same width from the top to the bottom.
If you are trying to grow green onions or scallions, you will need to care for them in identical ways in your garden.
When Should You Sow Scallions And Green Onions?
Timing is not very important when it comes to sowing your green onion and scallion seeds. This is because they grow well in both cool and hot weather.
If you want to grow your vegetables as early as possible, you should start sowing your seeds inside around two months before the date of the last frost in your area.
It is important to make sure that you are through the cold weather because seedlings are more vulnerable to frost. Most onions will be able to survive through a light frost, though.
Green onions are very quick to grow and mature, and they will usually be ready to pick around 50 to 65 days after planting.
How To Plant Green Onion And Scallions
You can either sow the seeds indoors first and then move them outdoors, or you can sow the seeds outdoors immediately.
Either way, you will want to plant the onion seeds around a quarter of an inch to half an inch deep. You can make these holes with a pencil, and drop two seeds into each hole to ensure they take.
Planting Indoors
If you are planting the seeds indoors first, you will need to generously sprinkle your seeds about a quarter of an inch deep. This will need to be done in a small pot with a well-draining potting mix.
Usually, you would keep different varieties separate. However, these vegetables both have strong roots so they can be sown together.
During the time the seedlings are inside, you will want to make sure that you keep the pot well watered. This will encourage the seeds to grow but will mean they do not rot.
Planting Outdoors
If you are sowing your seeds directly outside, you will want to sprinkle a few seeds in each planting hole. These holes should be around 2 inches apart.
This is to make sure that you get some onions growing in each hole. If more than one plant takes, you should thin these out later on.
Transplanting Your Seedlings
If you’ve sown some green onion seeds close together and they are ready to transplant, you will want to know how you can do this without damaging the plant.
Green onions are very tough and they can quite easily be teased apart without causing damage to the plant.
Caring For Green Onions And Scallions
Both of these vegetables re very independent growers. They don’t need much attention after they have been transplanted!
All you will need to do is make sure that you keep them watered! Ensure that they do not try out, but that they are not too moist either. They will not do well in soggy soil!
A good way to test whether your onions are ready for some more water is to use your finger to feel whether the top inch of the soil is completely dry. If it is moist, they don’t need to be watered.
Problems With Scallions And Green Onions
Some of the most common problems with growing onions include discolored leaves, wilting plants, stunted growth, and malformed bulbs. Usually, these problems would be caused by poor soil, diseases, pests, or bad weather.
If you experience any of these problems, be sure to troubleshoot your onions. Often, one small change will save your onions!
Growing These Vegetables In Pots
These vegetables grow very well in pots and containers! You will need to have a container that is big enough to hold the vegetables. Onions have fairly shallow roots, so you will need a pot that has a depth of around 4 inches.
When it comes to container vegetables, you should use a potting mix that drains well. You will need to make sure that your pot has drainage holes in the bottom so that the roots don’t rot from being too moist.
Harvesting Green Onions
You can harvest green onions at any stage depending on how you prefer your vegetables.
The ideal time to harvest your green onions is immediately prior to the bulb forming. This is when the onions will have the best flavor.
If the bulb has started to form, you can still harvest these onions, but more mature green onions will be a lot spicier than those that are harvested earlier.
To harvest the onions, gently pull them up from the base. You may need to use a small shovel or your hands to loosen the soil around your onion.
Be careful not to damage the vegetables during this process, and make sure that you are gentle as you pull them out. Sometimes, you will need to twist the onions slightly to loosen them from the soil.
If you are only looking to harvest the green tops and not the white part of the vegetables, you can simply cut the onions at the base. This will allow them to grow back without you needing to plant any more green onions.
Harvesting Scallions
Scallions are young, immature onions. They are usually harvested for their greens, as well as the small white stem you will find underground.
Both of these parts of the vegetable can be used in salads or as garnishes. People often use them as a substitute for chives as they can be cooked.
The scallions are usually ready around 60 days after planting, but this will depend upon your personal preference. The younger the scallion, the milder the flavor will be.
Once scallions are ready to be harvested you will want to loosen the soil around the scallion so that they are easy to pull up.
It is best to harvest and use your scallions immediately, but if you have too many, you can always store them in the refrigerator for up to a week! If you leave them for longer than this, they will quickly wilt and lose their freshness.
If you are planning to store your scallions, it is best not to wash them before storing them. Instead, wash them before use. They should be kept in an airtight container or bag.
When you are preparing your scallions, you should trim off the roots and the tip of the white stems. You should also cut off the top 2 inches of greenery.
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