How to Grow Scallions in Window Boxes

Place your window box on the sunniest side of the house for best results.

Scallions are simple to grow, providing you with a tasty culinary addition. Living in small spaces, apartments or condominiums may prevent you from having adequate space for a vegetable garden. By using window boxes, you can grow your own supply of fresh scallions, while skipping the work involved in maintaining a large garden. Planting scallions in window boxes will give you more control over the soil used and provide you with the ability to skip the hassle of daily weeding.

Things You'll Need

• Drill bit
• Power drill
• Potting soil (organic with organic material added)
• Balanced fertilizer, slow-release granules
• Scallion sets
• Scissors
• Scallion seeds (optional)

Instructions

1. Drill small drainage holes, using a drill bit and power drill, if the chosen window box does not contain any. Six to eight drainage holes, spaced evenly over the bottom, is ideal.

2. Fill the window box with potting soil. Many garden centers sell organic potting mix with organic material added such as peat moss, perlite or vermiculite. If possible, purchase this high-quality mix.

3. Incorporate 1 to 2 tbsp. of balanced fertilizer into the soil. Look for slow-release fertilizers in granule form. These easily leach into the soil when watered, feeding the growing sets and providing a strong root system.

4. Place scallion sets on top of the soil, 2 inches apart. Push the scallion sets 1 inch into the soil, pointed tip down. Cover the scallion sets with 1 inch of soil and water until damp or moisture begins to drip from the bottom of the window box.

5. Move the window box outdoors on a south-facing window when temperatures remain above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Most window boxes include hardware for easy window ledge installation. Always follow the given instructions to install the window box on your particular type of exterior facade.

6. Cut the scallions from the window box with scissors when they reach 6 inches tall, leaving 1 inch of scallion stem above the bulb.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid purchasing scallion sets that have begun to sprout. Pick firm sets void of brown or black spots.

• Gardeners unable to obtain scallion sets may sow scallion seeds directly into the window box one month before the last frost. Space the scallion seeds 1/2-inch apart and 1/4-inch underneath the soil.

References

• Heirloom Organics: How to Grow Scallions