Other names
Welsh onion, green onion, scallion
Botanical name
Allium fistulosum
Family / Genus
Amaryllidaceae / Allium
Plant category
Leek vegetables
The spring onion is essentially a perennial and forms clumps over time. You should divide these every 3 to 4 years.
In beds, it's often grown as an annual and moves through the garden with the other plants over the years, frequently proving to be a good neighbour.
Facts and figures
Light requirements
Sun / partial shade
Nutrient requirements
Light feeder
Difficulty level
Easy
Culture (according to Gertrud Franck)
B - early, B - late, C - low growth, short growing period
Culture (according to Sister C. Weinrich)
Companion crop
Growing period
45 - 240 days
Row spacing
20 cm
Plant spacing
10 cm
Growth height
30 - 80 cm
Sowing depth
1 cm
Germination temperature (minimum)
3 °C
Germination temperature (optimal)
18 - 25 °C
Germination type
Light and dark
Planting & harvest times of Spring onion
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Direct sowing
Harvest
from year 1
Harvest (next year)
SpringDirect sowing from Early March to Late June. After a growing period of 45 days, harvest can begin around Mid April and continues until Late October.
AutumnDirect sowing from Early August to Late October. After a growing period of 240 days, harvest can begin around Early April and continues until Late June next year.
PerennialDirect sowing from Early March to Late May. In the first year, harvest can begin after a growing period of 45 days and continues until Late October. From the second year on, harvest can begin as early as around Early February.
Good and bad companions of Spring onion
Spring onions go well with beetroot, lettuce and parsnips, and planting them among strawberries is an old companion planting tip. Plenty of gardeners also put them next to carrots, though a net works far more reliably against carrot fly. Keep them away from beans and peas, as both grow poorly beside them. Don't plant other alliums right next to them, because they attract the same pests, such as onion fly and leek miner fly.
Very good neighbours
Beetroot
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Tradition agrees across several language regions
Good neighbours
Batavia lettuce
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Tradition agrees across several language regions
Butterhead lettuce
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Tradition agrees across several language regions
Carrot
Spring onions can be sown thinly mixed with carrots and make good use of the space. This only helps against carrot fly while the onions are young; a net protects reliably.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Tradition agrees across several language regions
Reasons:
- Pest control through scent or camouflage
- Practical tip for this pair
Cucumber
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Tradition agrees across several language regions
Dill
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented, Tradition agrees across several language regions
Iceberg lettuce
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Tradition agrees across several language regions
Lamb's lettuce
Evidence quality: limited
Evidence: Guidebooks, companion planting charts, tradition
Lollo biando / Lollo rosso
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Tradition agrees across several language regions
Marjoram
Evidence quality: limited
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Guidebooks, companion planting charts, tradition, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Oak leaf lettuce
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Tradition agrees across several language regions
Parsley
Spring onions can be sown thinly mixed with parsley and are pulled carefully before they need the space.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Guidebooks, companion planting charts, tradition, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Parsnip
Spring onions can be sown thinly mixed with parsnips and are pulled carefully before they need the space.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Tradition agrees across several language regions
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Pot marigold
Evidence quality: limited
Evidence: Guidebooks, companion planting charts, tradition
Preliminary assessment, we're still researching.
Radicchio
Evidence quality: limited
Evidence: Guidebooks, companion planting charts, tradition
Romaine lettuce
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Tradition agrees across several language regions
Signet marigold
Evidence quality: limited
Evidence: Guidebooks, companion planting charts, tradition
Preliminary assessment, we're still researching.
Strawberry
Spring onions between strawberries are an old companion planting tip. Both grow well, but protection of the strawberries from fungi is not proven.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Tradition agrees across several language regions
Swiss chard
Evidence quality: limited
Evidence: Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Preliminary assessment, we're still researching.
Tomato
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Guidebooks, companion planting charts, tradition, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Turnip
Spring onions and turnips can be sown thinly mixed together. Both are harvested young without disturbing the others.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Reasons:
- Practical tip for this pair
Bad neighbours
Broad bean
Spring onions and legumes are considered bad neighbours that hold each other back. The reason is unknown.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Tradition agrees across several language regions
Bush bean
Spring onions and legumes are considered bad neighbours that hold each other back. The reason is unknown.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Tradition agrees across several language regions
Chives
Onion family plants attract the same pests, such as leek moth and allium leaf miner. Better not to plant them right next to each other.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Shared pathogen, spreads through proximity
- Shared pest is attracted or multiplies
Garlic
Onion family plants attract the same pests, such as leek moth and allium leaf miner. Better not to plant them right next to each other.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Shared pathogen, spreads through proximity
- Shared pest is attracted or multiplies
Garlic chives
Onion family plants attract the same pests, such as onion fly and allium leaf miner. Better not to plant them right next to each other.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Shared pathogen, spreads through proximity
- Shared pest is attracted or multiplies
Leek
Onion family plants attract the same pests, such as leek moth and allium leaf miner. Better not to plant them right next to each other.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
We found conflicting sources. This is our current assessment.
Reasons:
- Shared pathogen, spreads through proximity
- Shared pest is attracted or multiplies
Onion
Onion family plants attract the same pests, such as onion fly and allium leaf miner. Better not to plant them right next to each other.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Shared pathogen, spreads through proximity
- Shared pest is attracted or multiplies
Pea
Spring onions and legumes are considered bad neighbours that hold each other back. The reason is unknown.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Tradition agrees across several language regions
Pole bean
Spring onions and legumes are considered bad neighbours that hold each other back. The reason is unknown.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Tradition agrees across several language regions
Potato
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Runner bean
Spring onions and legumes are considered bad neighbours that hold each other back. The reason is unknown.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Tradition agrees across several language regions
Shallot
Onion family plants attract the same pests, such as onion fly and allium leaf miner. Better not to plant them right next to each other.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
We found conflicting sources. This is our current assessment.
Reasons:
- Shared pathogen, spreads through proximity
- Shared pest is attracted or multiplies
Tree onion
Onion family plants attract the same pests, such as onion fly and allium leaf miner. Better not to plant them right next to each other.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Shared pathogen, spreads through proximity
- Shared pest is attracted or multiplies
Predecessors and successors of Spring onion
Spring onions need a loose bed with few weeds. They do well after tomatoes, May turnips or a green manure that dies back over winter. Leave at least four years before following other alliums or spring onions again, because downy mildew and stem nematodes survive a long time in the soil. After peas and beans, wait two years, since they get hit by stem nematodes too. If you grow your spring onions as a perennial, divide the clump every two to four years and move it to a fresh bed.
Good predecessors
Buckwheat
A green manure that dies off in winter leaves a loose bed with few weeds. Spring onions grow well afterwards.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Reasons:
- Weed suppression for the next crop
Courgette
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Cucumber
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Honeydew melon
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Melothria
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Phacelia
A green manure that dies off in winter leaves a loose bed with few weeds. Spring onions grow well afterwards.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Reasons:
- Weed suppression for the next crop
Potato
Potatoes smother weeds with their dense foliage. Narrow-leaved onion family plants have an easier time afterwards.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Weed suppression for the next crop
Squash
Squash covers the soil densely and keeps weeds down. Spring onions, with their narrow leaves, have an easier time afterwards.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Reasons:
- Weed suppression for the next crop
Tomato
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Guidebooks, companion planting charts, tradition
Reasons:
- Weed suppression for the next crop
Turnip
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Reasons:
- Weed suppression for the next crop
Watermelon
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Bad predecessors
Broad bean
Both are attacked by stem nematodes, tiny roundworms in the soil. Leave two years between them.
Rotation break: 2 years
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Both host the same nematode species
Bush bean
Both are attacked by stem nematodes, tiny roundworms in the soil. Leave two years between them.
Rotation break: 2 years
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Both host the same nematode species
Chives
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Garlic
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Garlic chives
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Leek
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Onion
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Pea
Both are attacked by stem nematodes, tiny roundworms in the soil. Leave two years between them.
Rotation break: 2 years
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Both host the same nematode species
Pole bean
Both are attacked by stem nematodes, tiny roundworms in the soil. Leave two years between them.
Rotation break: 2 years
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Both host the same nematode species
Runner bean
Both are attacked by stem nematodes, tiny roundworms in the soil. Leave two years between them.
Rotation break: 2 years
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Both host the same nematode species
Shallot
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Spring onion
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
- Self-incompatibility
Tree onion
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Good successors
Batavia lettuce
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Broccoli
Cabbage grows especially well after alliums, as long-term crop rotation trials show.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Butterhead lettuce
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Cauliflower
Cabbage grows especially well after onion family crops, as long-term crop rotation trials show.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Iceberg lettuce
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Kale
Brassicas grow especially well after the onion family, as long-term crop rotation trials have shown.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Lollo biando / Lollo rosso
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Oak leaf lettuce
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Romaine lettuce
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Bad successors
Broad bean
Both are attacked by stem nematodes, tiny roundworms in the soil. Leave two years between them.
Rotation break: 2 years
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Both host the same nematode species
Bush bean
Both are attacked by stem nematodes, tiny roundworms in the soil. Leave two years between them.
Rotation break: 2 years
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Both host the same nematode species
Chives
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Garlic
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Garlic chives
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Leek
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Onion
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Pea
Both are attacked by stem nematodes, tiny roundworms in the soil. Leave two years between them.
Rotation break: 2 years
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Both host the same nematode species
Pole bean
Both are attacked by stem nematodes, tiny roundworms in the soil. Leave two years between them.
Rotation break: 2 years
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Both host the same nematode species
Runner bean
Both are attacked by stem nematodes, tiny roundworms in the soil. Leave two years between them.
Rotation break: 2 years
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Both host the same nematode species
Shallot
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Spring onion
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
- Self-incompatibility
Tree onion
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Diseases and pests
Spring onions are tough and rarely fall ill. The pests most likely to bother them are onion fly, leek miner fly and leek moth. A fine insect-proof net keeps the flies and moths out. Against soil-borne diseases, a wide rotation with a four-year gap to other onion family crops helps.
Susceptible to
Allium leaf miner
Leek moth
Leek rust
Onion basal rot
Onion downy mildew
Onion fly
Onion thrips
Stem nematode
White rot
Harvest and processing
You can grow spring onions as annuals — in that case, you pull the whole plant out of the ground.
Or you leave the perennial plant in place and just cut the green shoots, much like you would with chives. This way, you can start harvesting shortly after the first new growth appears.
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