Spring onions look like the red onions, only that they have a white-colored, smaller bulb. Their taste is also milder than that of red onions. They taste good when added to salads. The easy to grow vegetables will be ready to harvest eight weeks after germination. The onions have two parts. The white rounded base with roots, and the elongated green portion. Both parts of the onions are edible and taste differently.
Growing Spring Onions in Water
1. Get some spring onions with roots. The larger the roots, the better.
2. Trim the green part of the onions, and emerge them in a see-through glass of water. The white part should be fully submerged.
3. Place the glass near a window, so that the onions can get sufficient light.
4. Change the water daily. When the green parts are long and fully matured, cut them and use them for cooking, and leave the rest of the onion in water for further growth.
As long as you change the water frequently, your onions will regrow. You will always have a fresh supply of spring onions. You can have as many jars as possible.
Pointers in Growing Spring Onions in Water
- Don’t let the growing water get dirty. Change it frequently.
- Do not cut the onions too close to the white part.
- Place your onions near a window, so that they can receive sufficient light.
- Add adequate water to the growing jar. The water should cover the white part.
Growing Spring Onions in Soil
1. Growing from Seed
1. Buy spring onions seeds from reliable dealers.
2. Loosen the soil on your garden. The onions will not do well in dense, compacted soil. Although they do not require a lot of sunshine to grow, the garden should be open enough to allow some light penetration.
3. Add organic fertilizer on the garden and mix it with the soil.
4. Dig 1 cm holes and put the seeds in them. Cover the holes with soil. The onions don’t do well in acidic soils. Add garden lime in your garden is the soil is acidic.
You can also spread the seeds randomly in a garden instead of planting them in holes.
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2. Regrowing Spring Onions
Apart from growing the onions from seed, you can also regrow them from existing onions. Buy mature onions and cut a section of the green part. Dig holes in the garden, and plant the white part. The remaining part of the green section should be above the soil surface.
3. Watering Spring Onions
Only water the plants when the soil feels dry. Use a garden sprinkler if the garden is large. If it’s small, use a watering can. Do not overwater the plants, as they may develop large bulbs with little flavor. Too much water will also cause rotting.
4. Mulching the Plants
Mulch your garden to reduce the loss of moisture and reduce the need for watering. Mulch will also discourage the growth of weeds, which may compete with the onions for space, water, and nutrients.
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5. Adding Fertilizer
Spring onions will do well without the addition of fertilizer. However, if your soil is not fertile enough, add water-soluble fertilizer to provide them with more nutrients, during planting.
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6. Harvesting
Most varieties of spring onions take eight weeks to fully mature. Some varieties may take longer. After they are ready for harvest, you can let them stay in the garden if you don’t need them. However, don’t let them stay for very long, as they may overgrow and lose their taste.
To harvest them, can dig them up using a shovel. Be careful not to cut the bulbs. Also, you can pull them out by hand.
Dealing with Pests and Diseases
Fungal and Bacterial Diseases
1. Botrytis Leaf Blight
High levels of humidity and warm temperatures may cause the development of the disease on spring onions.
The disease makes the leaves develop white segments with green patches. Older leaves are more prone to leaf blight than younger ones.
To prevent the diseases, space your plants appropriately during planting to allow good air circulation.
2. Downy Mildew
Plants affected by downy mildew usually have pale patches. The leaves may start turning yellow, and their edges may eventually die. The leading cause of downy mildew is cold temperatures.
Appropriate spacing and crop rotation will significantly reduce the occurrence of the disease.
3. Pink Root
The disease makes the roots of the onions turn pink and then purple on further development. Crop rotation and soil sterilization will significantly minimize the probability of your plants developing pink root disease.
Pests that may Attack Onions
1. Leaf Miners
The black and yellow pests lay their eggs o the leaves, leaving white patches. Use organic pesticides to get rid of them.
2. Thrips
Younger onions are more susceptible to thrips. The pests create scars on the leaves, and greatly affect them. You can spray organic insecticides on the plants to get rid of them. Overhead irrigation will also discourage their growth.
3. Bulb Mites
The white clouded mites may affect both the green part of the onions and the bulb. To prevent them, treat spring onion seeds with hot water before planting. Practice crop rotation too.
Benefits of Spring Onions
1. Helps in Proper Digestion
Spring onions have a lot of fiber, which prevents constipation and aid digestion. They also prevent gastrointestinal problems that cause diarrhea and other related stomach problems.
2. Lowers Blood Sugar Levels
Green onions have sulfur compounds that lower the levels of blood sugar in the blood.
3. Promotes Good Vision
The onions have carotenoids which maintain proper vision. They also have vitamin A which helps maintain healthy vision. They also prevent loss of eyesight by preventing eye inflammation.
4. Prevents the Development of Cold and Flu
The onions have antibacterial and antiviral antibacterial properties, which help the body fight colds and flus.
5. Development of Strong Bones
The onions have vitamin c, which helps in collagen synthesis, which promotes the development of strong bones.
Apart from having a good flavor, spring onions offers several benefits to the body. They are also easy to grow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before germination, ensure that the soil is always moist. After germination, water your plants when the soil feels dry.
Before germination, ensure that the soil is always moist. After germination, water your plants when the soil feels dry.
With proper watering and protection from pests and diseases, spring onions will regrow up to 4 times.
Yes. You can grow the onions together with other vegetables such as garlic and leek. Just ensure they do not obstruct sunlight from reaching your onions.
Add fertilizer on your onions up to 3 times in a growing season. If the soil is fertile and well-drained, the onions will grow well without the need for fertilizer addition.
Spring onions will be ready for harvest eight weeks after planting. However, they might take longer due to various reasons, such as inadequate water.
