Harvest Type:  Continuous or single

Transplant/Direct Sow:  Direct sow

When to Plant:  After the last frost or in the fall in warmer areas

Days to Germinate:  7-10 days

Days to Maturity:  65-120 days

Planting Depth:  ¼ - ¾” deep

Germination Temp:  40°F

Seed Spacing:  1-2” apart or 8-12 per row foot

Rows:  1’ apart

Light:  Full sun

Soil pH:  6.2 - 6.8 pH

Water:  Keep soil moist but not wet.

Soil Temperature:  46-86°F

Fertilizer:  10-20-10 N-P-K ratio at 3” below the soil before planting.

Rotation:  Annually to locations where other members of the allium family have not grown.

Harvest Type

Snip the tops for a continuous harvest or pull the whole plant for a single harvest.

Transplant / Direct Sow

Transplant or direct sow - In cooler climates, you can start bunching onion seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost. In warmer climates, direct sow the seeds in the fall. For spring planting, direct sow seeds when the ambient temperature is around 60°F.

When to Plant:

For indoor planting, start seeds in a tray, 6-8 weeks before the last frost date. For outdoor sowing, plant seeds when the ambient temperature is around 60°F and the soil temperature is around 55°F.

Days to germinate

10-14 days

Days to maturity

It takes 60-120 days for bunching onions plants to mature. You can start to snip the tops of leaves when the plants are 8-12" tall.

Planting Depth

Plant bunching onion seeds at 1/4" deep.

Germination Temperature Range

Above 46°F and optimally at 55-75°F.

Spacing Between Plants

Bunching onions are slender plants, so plan for about 2" between plants.

Growing conditions

Most varieties of bunching onions are hardy. They like the warmth and will stand some frost and cold. They also like soil to be a little acidic with a pH between 6.2-6,8. Plant in well-drained soil that holds moisture but does not become soggy.

TIP: Best grown in a raised bed. These plants have around a 4-inch root space.

Companion Plants

Other root crops such as beets, onions, and leeks do well with bunching onions. Carrots are another companion plant as the bunching onions add some protection to carrots against the carrot fly.

Rotation

Rotate each year to a place where other allium plants have not grown.

Anticipated yields

Plan your garden yield at six bunching onion plants per person. For drying, a 10' row will yield 5-10 pounds of onions.