Spring onions

[newatallthis]

Spring onions I have had them in the ground a while now, when do I pick them? and when I do pick them do I just pull the whole thing out of the ground, which I guess will leave me with nothing there. Is this right?

Are these something you just plant and pull and then have to buy more? obviously not now coz its too late.

Many thanks in advance.

[Carole B.]

I find it unusual that you bought spring onions as plants they are something that you sow yourself generally,are you sure they're not leek plants? If they are spring onions then yes you just pull and eat with nothing left in the ground.

[newatallthis]

Well they didn't have a name on them, but they don't look like leeks, they look like spring onions. the leaves are that of spring onions anyway.
SO can I pull them now?
Newatallthis

[Chantal]

I pull my spring onions as I need them once they are big enough to eat. Any I don't eat this year I leave in the ground and they clump up for eating the next year. I'm still eating some of last year's.


Don't pull what you don't need, just enough for your meal and they'll go for ages.

[John]

Hello Newatallthis
Spring onions are pulled whole and eaten when young. Its best to sow a few every month or so to ensure a regular supply. They are easily sown in small module trays, a pinch in each plug, and then plant out each plug a few inches apart. You can germinate them outdoors now, no need for kitchen windowsills or greenhouses.

I'm a big fan of the japanese onion 'Ishikura' which is widely available now. These are sown as above but earthed up as they grow to produce beautiful long white shanks bit like a sort of mini-leek. The pickling onion 'Paris Silverskin' does well when grown as a spring onion - you don't have to pickle them, just eat them raw as you would with spring onions.

John

[newatallthis]

Thanks for that everyone,and for the advice about planting out so many at a time, do you mean grow from seeds or from plants?

Newatallthis

[John]

Always use seed. It's very cheap and has excellent germination. It's also a reasonable size, keeps well and is easy to handle.

John

[newatallthis]

Always use seed. It's very cheap and has excellent germination. It's also a reasonable size, keeps well and is easy to handle.

John

Thank you very much John. Will add that one to my list. Have just planted some cut and come again lettuce from seed this weekend, I have to say it is very exciting watching things grow from seed. They are the first planted seeds.

many thanks
newatallthis