How to Regrow Green Onions

Green onions, also known as scallions or spring onions, are a versatile ingredient used in many dishes worldwide. What’s fantastic about green onions is that you don’t have to keep buying them once you’ve purchased them the first time—you can regrow them easily at home! Re-growing green onions not only saves you money but also promotes sustainable, eco-friendly gardening practices right from your kitchen.

In this guide, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about how to regrow green onions effectively, from selecting the right onions to harvesting and maintaining your green onion supply.

Why Regrow Green Onions?

Re-growing green onions has become a popular choice for home gardeners and kitchen enthusiasts. Here are some reasons why it’s a smart and rewarding practice:

• Cost-effective: You can reduce your grocery bill by continuously re-growing green onions rather than purchasing new bunches every week.
• Eco-friendly: Re-growing vegetables reduces waste and encourages a more sustainable lifestyle.
• Convenient: Having fresh green onions at home means you don’t need to run to the store every time you need them for a recipe.
• Easy for beginners: Re-growing green onions requires minimal time, effort, and equipment, making it ideal for people new to gardening.

What You’ll Need to Regrow Green Onions

You don’t need much to get started. Here’s what you’ll need:

• A bunch of green onions from the store or your garden (choose ones with healthy roots).
• A clear glass or jar.
• Water.
• A sunny spot, like a windowsill or kitchen counter that gets ample sunlight.

Optionally, you can also transfer the green onions to soil once they start growing for a fuller harvest. We’ll cover both water and soil methods in this guide.

How to Regrow Green Onions in Water

The water method is the easiest way to regrow green onions and works well for beginners.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Cut the Green Onions: Start by cutting the green tops of the onions, leaving about 1–2 inches of the white base and roots intact. This root portion is what you’ll regrow.
2. Prepare the Jar: Fill a clear jar or glass with about an inch of water. Make sure it’s deep enough for the roots to sit comfortably in the water without submerging the entire white portion.
3. Place in the Sunlight: Place the jar on a sunny windowsill. Green onions need sunlight to grow, so try to find a location that gets around 6 hours of sunlight a day.
4. Change the Water Regularly: Every two to three days, change the water to keep it fresh. Fresh water prevents bacterial growth and ensures the green onions stay healthy.
5. Observe Growth: Within a few days, you’ll start seeing new green shoots emerging from the tops. In about a week, you should have enough growth to start harvesting.
6. Harvest as Needed: When the greens reach a few inches in height, you can start trimming what you need. Leave about an inch of green above the white base to allow continued growth.

Advantages of the Water Method:

• Simple and quick setup.
• Great for limited space, like a small apartment or kitchen.
• Easy to monitor growth progress.

Disadvantages:

• Water-grown green onions can be weaker and less flavorful than soil-grown ones.
• Requires regular maintenance, including water changes.

How to Regrow Green Onions in Soil

For a more robust harvest and longer-lasting plants, you can transplant your green onions into soil after initial growth in water.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Choose a Pot or Garden Space: If you’re using a pot, ensure it has good drainage and is at least 4–6 inches deep. If planting outside, choose a spot that gets plenty of sunlight.
2. Fill with Soil: Use nutrient-rich potting soil for pots or garden soil with good drainage. Green onions prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 6–7).
3. Plant the Onions: Make a small hole about 2 inches deep, then place the rooted base of the onion in the soil. Cover with soil, ensuring only the roots and about 1 inch of the white base are underground.
4. Water Consistently: Water the soil immediately after planting and keep it moist but not soggy. Overwatering can cause root rot, so aim for balanced moisture.
5. Place in Sunlight: Like with the water method, green onions in soil also need about 6 hours of sunlight daily.
6. Harvest and Repeat: Once the greens have grown to your desired length, snip them off, leaving at least an inch above the white base so the green onions can regrow.

Advantages of the Soil Method:

• Produces more robust, flavorful green onions.
• Green onions can regrow for longer periods in soil than in water.

Disadvantages:

• Requires more setup than the water method.
• Can take up more space if you’re growing multiple onions.

Caring for Your Regrown Green Onions

1. Sunlight Requirements: Green onions thrive in bright, indirect sunlight. Whether you’re using water or soil, ensure they get adequate light to encourage growth.

2. Water Management: For water-based regrowth, change the water every 2–3 days. For soil-based growth, water when the top inch of soil feels dry.

3. Trimming and Harvesting: Only cut what you need and leave a little green above the base. Cutting too close to the base may slow down regrowth.

4. Nutrients: If your green onions start looking weak, you can add a diluted fertilizer (like fish emulsion or compost tea) every month to the soil.

Common Issues When Re-growing Green Onions

Even though green onions are easy to regrow, there can be a few common problems you might encounter.

1. Yellowing Leaves: If the green shoots start to yellow, it could mean they aren’t getting enough light or nutrients. Move them to a sunnier spot or consider adding a light fertilizer if they’re in soil.

2. Slimy Roots: If roots become slimy in water, it’s likely due to bacterial growth from infrequent water changes. Simply rinse the roots, refresh the water, and place them back in the jar.

3. Slow Growth: Inadequate sunlight, poor water quality, or lack of nutrients could be causing slow growth. Adjust these factors to improve regrowth.

4. Mold or Mildew on Soil: If you’re growing in soil and notice mold, it could be from overwatering or poor airflow. Allow the soil to dry out a bit between waterings and consider using a fan or dehumidifier if you’re indoors.

Tips for Long-Term Green Onion Regrowth Success

1. Rotate the Jar or Pot: If one side of the green onions seems to grow faster, rotate the container every few days to balance sunlight exposure.
2. Use Fresh Water: Don’t let water sit for too long. Fresh water prevents bacterial growth and encourages healthier roots.
3. Replant Regularly: After a few cycles of regrowth, green onions can become weak. You can restart the process with a fresh bunch to ensure consistent, healthy growth.
4. Enjoy Variety: Experiment with other green onion varieties, like bunching onions or chives, which may bring new flavors and textures to your kitchen.

Conclusion

Re-growing green onions is a fantastic way to add a bit of greenery to your kitchen, save money, and practice sustainable living. With the steps outlined here, you’ll have a constant supply of fresh green onions for your cooking needs. Whether you choose the water method or the soil method, you’re sure to enjoy the convenience and satisfaction of harvesting your own home-grown green onions right from your windowsill.