Growing green onions in containers is easy. Needed is a good size container with some depth to allow the onion roots to freely grow. Also needed is some nutrient rich soil as a growing medium. Finally, a bunch of green onions themselves will be required for plant propagation.
Green onions demand no acres of space. This is a big advantage. Any space that can fit a good size container is good enough to facilitate the growing of green onions in containers.
This quick guide offers practical steps needed to successfully grow green onions in pots.
The scientific name for green onion is Allium fistulosum. This onion type is of the genus Allium which also has red onion and pearl onions as family members, among others.
Green onions are sometimes referred to as scallions, spring onions or sibies. They differ from regular onions in size as well as taste. Scallions are mild in taste than regular onions.
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Materials needed to grow green onions in containers
Prepare the scallions for propagation
Green onions are easy to grow through plant propagation. The exact method used is asexual propagation. A part of the main plant is taken and made to regenerate itself into a brand-new plant. The new plant will have exact characteristics of the original plant.
In this case, the stem with roots attached will be used while the green leaves are removed. Fresh green onions purchased from the grocery store are good for this purpose.
Another method of growing green onions will be the use of commercially purchased seeds. Scallion seeds are widely available online. This guide demonstrates asexual propagation of scallions.
Good size pots with drainage holes
Any good size container will work to grow green onions. The container can be a repurposed container or commercially available nursery pots. What is essential is that the container used to grow green onions should have holes beneath for effective drainage of any excess water.
Nutrient rich soil or potting mix
Good rich soil with nutrients will work as a growing medium for green onions. This type of soil can be scooped right from a garden where it is already fertilised. Commercially available indoor potting mixes such as Miracle Gro can also be used although not always necessary.
Water
Finally, water will be an ongoing key requirement. Onions thrive in environments of good moisture levels.
Practical steps for growing green onions in containers
Preparing the green onions for propagation
Harvested or grocery bought scallions must first be trimmed off the green leaves. This is the asexual propagation propagation method. The image above shows green onions soon after harvest.
The onions are to be kept fresh until they are ready for planting. This can be achieved by sitting them in a container with water to avoid the roots drying off.
Using a knife or good kitchen scissors the leaves are removed. The image above shows the green onions after the green leaves are removed. The trimming is done at the right level. Not too far up and not too close to the roots.
The scallions are then separated into single stems. Care is taken to preserve the roots and leave them intact as much as possible.
Preparing growing container
The potting container used must have holes as shown. Commercial containers are supplied ready with the holes. Holes can easily be added to a repurposed homemade container. Here are examples of commercial pots.
The container is filled with the growing medium. The propagated green onions are then planted and watered. The pot is placed away from direct sunlight, preferably under a shade.
In a few days, the propagated green onions show proof of life. Green shoots begin appearing swiftly. Watering must continue every other day or as needed especially in hot climates.
When to harvest green onions
Green onions are ready for harvest once they have grown tall enough. This is generally when the leaves have grown to about 30cm. At this stage the leaves can be clipped at will for a variety of culinary applications.
Green onion leaves are green in color, hollow and tubular. Consumption can be done raw, for example, in salads. They can also be consumed cooked in stews and other fried dishes.
Scallions regrow lost leaves. This ensures a steady supply of flavourful leaves for a long time. This is one of the reasons green onions are grown in containers. It is not unusual for containers to sit in the kitchen for easy access.
Depending on preference, many green onion growers limit their harvest to the green leaves. In this case, the onions are grown for their leaves instead of any bulbs or roots. In any case, scallions do not form a full fledged bulb as found in other onion varieties.
