First time home grower (vegs) - Ask Extension
I want to grow a few vegetables this year (it's My first time trying to grow vegetables!)
My biggest want is to grow green onions.
Where can I fin...
Knowledgebase
First time home grower (vegs) #859099
Asked February 13, 2024, 6:41 PM EST
I want to grow a few vegetables this year (it's My first time trying to grow vegetables!)
My biggest want is to grow green onions.
Where can I find some sort of outline or instructions on when & how to get started growing them?
Kent County Michigan
Expert Response
Hi Amber,
This is a wonderful time to begin thinking of a spring garden and all the delicious and healthy vegetables we can grow. I am happy to hear you are starting your first vegetable garden.
I have included two references on growing onions for your reading. They are from the Minnesota Extension Office and the Maryland Extension Office.
https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/growing-scallions-home-gardens#diseases-3259111
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-onions-home-garden/
You will see that you can start from onion seed, but I would not recommend it. In our climate it may take too long. You can purchase either onion sets or onion transplants at feed stores, garden stores, or big box stores. Any type will work in a home garden and will give you good results. I personally prefer onion sets.
You can plant onions outdoors in early spring, after soon as the soil can be worked. Onions prefer a sandy, fairly fertile loam with plenty of moisture but with good drainage. Choose a site with at least 6 hours of sunshine. Plant the set pointed end up with the tip just below the surface. If you are going to pull them as green onions plant 1 to 2 inches apart. If you plan to let them mature to a bulb, plant 2 -to 4 inches apart. Keep onions watered. They can be harvested as green onions as soon as the leaves are as long as you would like and the white does not show any sign of a bulb forming.
I hope this information is helpful and you have success in the garden.
This is a wonderful time to begin thinking of a spring garden and all the delicious and healthy vegetables we can grow. I am happy to hear you are starting your first vegetable garden.
I have included two references on growing onions for your reading. They are from the Minnesota Extension Office and the Maryland Extension Office.
https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/growing-scallions-home-gardens#diseases-3259111
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-onions-home-garden/
You will see that you can start from onion seed, but I would not recommend it. In our climate it may take too long. You can purchase either onion sets or onion transplants at feed stores, garden stores, or big box stores. Any type will work in a home garden and will give you good results. I personally prefer onion sets.
You can plant onions outdoors in early spring, after soon as the soil can be worked. Onions prefer a sandy, fairly fertile loam with plenty of moisture but with good drainage. Choose a site with at least 6 hours of sunshine. Plant the set pointed end up with the tip just below the surface. If you are going to pull them as green onions plant 1 to 2 inches apart. If you plan to let them mature to a bulb, plant 2 -to 4 inches apart. Keep onions watered. They can be harvested as green onions as soon as the leaves are as long as you would like and the white does not show any sign of a bulb forming.
I hope this information is helpful and you have success in the garden.
