How to Grow Fall Green Onions from Seed Sets
Green onions are the stalks of undeveloped onion bulbs. They have a mild flavor compared to bulb onions, and are often used as a garnish in raw and cooked dishes. Green onions grow from "sets," which are small onion bulbs that are planted in the garden. It takes approximately two months for green onions to reach an edible size after planting. For a fall crop, plant out the sets in late summer so the green onions are ready to harvest before the first hard frost in late fall or early winter. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Apply 1/2 cup of a 10-20-10 fertilizer per 10-foot long row. Work the fertilizer into the top 2 to 3 inches of the garden bed.
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Plant the sets with their pointed ends facing up. Sow the sets so the top of the bulb sits no more than 2 inches beneath the soil surface. Space them 1/2 inch or closer together, as the bulbs need no "growing room" to develop when being grown for use as green onions.
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Water the onion bed when the top 1/2 inch of soil begins to feel dry, usually about once weekly. Provide enough water to moisten the top 6 inches of soil in the bed.
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Fertilize the onions a second time three to four weeks after planting. Apply 1/2 cup of nitrogen fertilizer to every 10-foot long row of onions. Work the fertilizer into the soil between the rows so it doesn't come in direct contact with the bulbs.
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Harvest the green onions when the stalks are at least 6 inches long and firm. Pull up the entire plant, including the small bulb at the base.
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Tips & Warnings
Onion sets that are larger in diameter than a dime are best suited for growing green onions. Use smaller sets for growing bulb onions.
While any onion variety can be use for green onions, many garden centers sell sets of onion varieties that are bred specifically for use as green onions.
References
- Photo Credit Martin Poole/Digital Vision/Getty Images
