Spring onions (also called green onions or scallions) are among the most space-efficient crops in the Australian raised bed garden. They can be grown densely, harvested as needed, and regrown from their bases. A permanent patch of spring onions also serves as a companion plant for many neighbouring crops.
Plant Spacing
5 cm apart
15 cm between rows
Days to Harvest
60-80 days
Germination: 7-14 days
Sun Needs
Full sun to partial shade
Water Needs
Regular, keep consistently moist
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Expected Yield
1 plant per harvest; regrows 2-3 times after cutting
Planting times vary significantly across Australia's five climate zones. Find your zone below for the best planting windows.
| Climate Zone | Best Planting Months |
|---|---|
| Tropical (Darwin, Cairns) | April-September |
| Subtropical (Brisbane, Northern NSW) | March-October |
| Temperate (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth) | Year-round; best Feb-May, Aug-Nov |
| Cool/Alpine (Canberra, Hobart, high country) | August-April |
| Arid (Alice Springs, outback) | March-October |
Not sure of your climate zone? Enter your postcode to get personalised planting advice.
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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.
From the makers
Plant Planner calculates how many spring onion plants your family needs, assigns them to the right beds, and generates a personalised planting schedule for your climate zone.
These plants make excellent neighbours for spring onion in your raised beds, they help deter pests, improve pollination, or enhance growing conditions.
Avoid planting spring onion near these crops, they can inhibit each other's growth, attract shared pests, or compete aggressively.
Thrips cause silver streaking on leaves and can spread iris yellow spot virus, control with spinosad spray or reflective mulch.
Onion leaf blight causes elongated lesions with dark borders, improve airflow and avoid overhead watering.
Downy mildew appears as pale patches with furry growth, remove affected material.
Snails and slugs eat young plants; use iron-based bait.
Pull individual plants when they reach pencil-width or thicker. The entire plant is edible, white bulb, green stem, and even flowers. For a continuous harvest, pull alternate plants and allow the remainder to continue growing. Wash and use immediately or store upright in a glass of water in the fridge for up to a week.
1 plant per harvest; regrows 2-3 times after cutting
Yield depends on variety, growing conditions, and management. These are typical results for well-maintained Australian raised beds.
Plant Planner checks every crop assignment against the full companion database, it knows that Spring Onion grows well with Carrot and Lettuce and warns you about antagonists automatically.
Unlock FreeMaintain a row of 20-30 plants at various stages; succession sow every 3-4 weeks
These estimates are based on average Australian household consumption. Adjust up if you plan to preserve, freeze, or use heavily; adjust down for occasional use.
Spring Onion germinates in 7-14 days and is ready to harvest in 60-80 days. Pull individual plants when they reach pencil-width or thicker.
Space spring onion plants 5 cm apart, with 15 cm between rows. Correct spacing gives each plant room for airflow and root development and is one of the easiest ways to lift your yield in a raised bed.
Full sun to partial shade. Regular, keep consistently moist.
It depends on your climate zone. In temperate areas (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide) plant spring onion Year-round; best Feb-May, Aug-Nov. Other zones: tropical, April-September; subtropical, March-October; cool, August-April; arid, March-October.
Spring Onion grows well alongside Carrot, Lettuce, Tomato, Beetroot, Strawberry, Chamomile. Keep it away from Beans, Peas, which can compete with it or attract shared pests.
Maintain a row of 20-30 plants at various stages; succession sow every 3-4 weeks
Plant Planner automatically calculates how many spring onion plants your family needs, assigns them to the right beds, and generates a personalised planting schedule for your climate zone.
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