Spring onions - secret to success?

[1Bee]

One crop I would really like to be able to grow, and have never succeeded with is spring onions!

We eat a lot of stir fries, and although in winter I use leeks, and in summer I can manage pak choi etc, I'd love to be self-sufficient in spring onions in summer....

But I've never even seen one germinate. I have no idea what happens - whether they don't germinate, germinate but immediately die, or germinate but immediately get eaten. In pots, in free-draining soil, in clay... nothing. Never a sight of one.

Would you wonderful folk share your tips, please? I've learned more about growing veg on here in the last couple of months than I have in years. My brain is throbbing...

*applies cold compress*

[Guest]

I don't have any joy with them either. I now use everlasting onions instead.

[Jungle Jane]

Last year I tried growing Ishikura spring onions in my raised bed,nothing germinated. This year I've tried some Tokyo long white spring onions in the ground-nothing germinated,but I put some seeds into some compost,in a trough where I have rocket,marigolds & bush tomato growing & they've germinated-not all of them,I have about six 3inch seedlings,but I must of sowed about 30 or 40 seeds. They might not like the compost too wet,I water every other day?

[Jay-ell]

I had quite a few cheap onion sets which I didn't have room to grow as standard onions. Popped them into trays to germinate then planted them packed in cheek by jowln Now have a large patch of spring onions for 25p

Last year sowed an entire pack of seeds and ended up with only 6 for £1.50

[1Bee]

Well, I certainly don't feel as bad about my lack of success.... ;-)

[cariann88]

I am growing white libson spring onions. I just watered them and left them where it's warm. They seem to have germinated a few days later.

[cariann88]

Although I have only 4 that have grown out of the many seeds I put in :/

[WendyC]

Spring onion germination is one of life's mysteries. The best results this year have been ones sown in modules in the greenhouse and planted out. They were purple ones, "Apache". I have tried White Lisbon sown direct have come to nothing. Last week I sowed some more Apache outside but used the technique for parsnips, of covering the watered row with a plank of wood to keep the moisture in. Can't tell if it has worked yet as I sowed on Sunday and haven't be back yet. Will report back when I get back after this afternoon.

[muddled]

I have grown them successfully.......three times (in twenty years )

Sowed five seeds to a module indoors.
watered them and waited....and waited...got pretty good germination.

They stay about as thick as human hair for months...well, okay I exaggerate...thick as weak grass. Every time I look at them a few more have died.

Eventually I get the 'ump and bung in the corner of some bed and forget all about them.

The following year there's a nice row of spring onions

[Bill HH]

I can't grow lots of things but spring onions just seem to fly away. Strange world is it not.

[WendyC]

Well are you going to share your secrets of spring onion success?

[Bren In Pots]

I find i get best germination if I only sprinkle a light covering of compost over my seeds.

[Bill HH]

Well are you going to share your secrets of spring onion success?

Well I would if there was one, but I sow them just like anything else. I always sow in new compost, in a large plastic box, about 5 inches deep, never let them dry out, never let them get soggy and drowned. I do find them frustratingly slow however.

[Bal]

I have grown them successfully.......three times (in twenty years )

Oh dear does that mean I have only one more year left in the next twenty sowed a row last year all cam up had to thin them out quit a bit, sowed another row this year a bit more thinly and they have all come up. Even forgot to water them at the beginning.

[Elfeda]

I have recently planted out whitelisbon plants outside. I used 100% undug method in my allotment I've taken last month. covered with lil compost, watered the patch and filled with spring onion in a small strip of it. they seem to be doing fine now. but now after reading everyone's experiences wonder if I have stop dreaming about fried rice with home grown spring onions