Spring onions are uncomplicated to grow and easy to care for - for those gardeners who know their preferences and needs. With this background information, the hurdle of planting becomes child's play.
How do you plant spring onions correctly?
Spring onions can be sown under glass or on the windowsill from February. Maintain a sowing depth of 1 cm, a soil temperature of 18 to 30 °C, and a distance of 15 to 20 cm between rows and 5 to 10 cm between plants. Choose a sunny location with well-drained, sandy-loamy and nutrient-rich soil.
How is sowing carried out?
From February, spring onions can be sown under glass or on the warm windowsill. They should only be allowed to get to know the outdoors between March and April. In addition to this early sowing, the spring onions can be sown in August - for a harvest the following year.
When sowing, pay attention to the following:
- Sowing depth: 1 cm
- Soil temperature: between 18 and 30 °C
- Row spacing: 15 to 20 cm
- Distance between individual plants: 5 to 10 cm
Which location and soil conditions are preferred?
Spring onions love full sun locations. They also grow in partial shade, but much more slowly. In addition, the more they are exposed to sunlight, the more intense their taste becomes. When it comes to soil, they value a permeable, sandy-loamy, humus-rich and nutrient-rich subsoil. Ideally, its pH value is in the range between 6.0 and 7.5.
Which neighbors are tough?
Spring onions get along with many other plants in their environment. At the same time, they become offended when they stand near certain plants. Good plant neighbors include oregano, dill, cucumbers, lettuce, carrots, beetroot, celery, lamb's lettuce and strawberries. Less recommended neighbors are:
- Beans
- Peas
- cabbage
- Potatoes
When and how does the harvest take place?
Spring onions are usually ready to harvest around three months after sowing. Thus, the harvest begins between June and July if the seeds were sown in spring. However, if they were sown in August, the spring onions will be harvested in May of the following year.
When harvesting, the entire plant is pulled out of the soil. Alternatively, you have the option of cutting off only the green parts of the plant and leaving the tiny tubers in the soil. With this variant you can use the scissors or knife to harvest again after just three to four weeks.
Tips & Tricks
If you want to harvest fresh spring onions throughout the garden season, you should leave at least 2.5 cm on the plant when harvesting. Then the spring onions continue to grow and form thicker bulbs.
