Vegetable · Root & Bulb
Green Onion
Allium fistulosum
A fast, easygoing allium harvested young for its mild stalk and green tops before a bulb fully forms. One of the quickest vegetables to go from seed to harvest.
At a glance
Water
Medium
20–32 fl oz/wk
Light
Full sun
6–8 hrs/day
Space
Small
4 in
To maturity
60–80 days
Edible parts: Stem, Leaves
Family: Allium
Includes onion, garlic, leek, and chives. Known for pungent, sulphur-rich compounds that give the group its characteristic smell and flavour.
Harvest
Pull whole plants once stalks are pencil-thick, or snip outer leaves and let the base regrow for a second flush.
Growing conditions
- Temperature
- 45–75 °F
- Soil pH
- 6–7
- Soil type
- Loose, well-drained soil rich in organic matter
- Climate
- Cool-season but tolerant of a wide range of temperatures.
- Growing season
- Direct-sow from early spring through late summer for a nearly continuous harvest.
- Nitrogen
- Medium (≈30–60 ppm)
- Humidity
- Medium (≈40–70 %)
- Planting unit
- Seed
- Feeding schedule
- Light, regular feeding supports steady leaf and stalk growth over its short season.
- Pest resistance
- High - generally trouble-free, occasional onion thrips
- Pests
- Onion thrips: Tiny, slender insects that rasp at leaf surfaces, leaving silvery streaks and patches, favoring alliums.
- Pruning
- None beyond harvesting.
Where it grows
- Container / PotIdeal— Shallow roots suit even a small pot or window box.
- HydroponicIdeal— A common, easy choice for Kratky and NFT systems.
- In-Ground GardenIdeal
- Raised BedIdeal
- WindowsillPossible— Can even regrow from kitchen scraps in a sunny window.
- Vertical / TrellisNot recommended— No climbing or vining habit.
Companions & antagonists
- Beneficial: Carrot — Mutual entry for the carrot/onion pest-masking pairing - see carrot's companion notes.
- Antagonistic: Green Bean — Mutual entry for the allium/legume interference - see green bean's companion notes.
Sources
- Planting and Growing Green Onions (Scallions) — The Old Farmer's Almanac
- Onions — University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension, County Crop Diversification
- Incompatible garden plants — Ask Extension