How to Grow Spring Onion in Australia

Spring onions are the workhorses of the raised bed garden — compact, fast, and multi-purpose. They can be grown as a long-term crop (pulling individual plants as needed) or as a short-term succession crop for continuous harvest.

Sow seeds 1–2cm deep in rows 15cm apart, with 5cm spacing within rows. Alternatively, buy bundles of seedlings at the nursery and plant them directly. Spring onions tolerate close spacing well and can be grown more densely than most vegetables without competition.

Succession sow every 3–4 weeks for continuous harvest. The fastest harvest comes from buying seedling bundles and planting direct; seed-sown plants take 60–80 days but provide a more cost-effective ongoing supply.

To regrow spring onions after harvest, leave 3–4cm of the white base in the ground — new shoots will emerge within a week or two. Alternatively, place the cut bases in a glass of water on a windowsill and transplant the regrown sections.

Spring onions are outstanding companion plants when interplanted with carrots in alternating rows — their contrasting scents confuse both carrot fly and onion fly. Plant them along the edges of raised beds as a companion border.

Feed lightly with a balanced fertiliser every 3–4 weeks. Spring onions are not heavy feeders but benefit from a topdressing of compost during the season. They are relatively pest and disease resistant compared to bulb onions.