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Growing Green Onion
Introduction
| Green onion (Allium fistulosum), scallions or spring onion are part of the Amaryllidaceae family. The family, which was originally created in 1805, now contains about 1600 species, divided into about 70–75 genera, 17 tribes and three subfamilies. |
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The Agapanthoideae (agapanthus), Allioideae (onions, leeks, garlic, onions, shallots and chives) and Amaryllidoideae (amaryllis, daffodils, snowdrops).
Types
There are 8 main kinds of of green onion. The following table lays out the differences.
| Types | Appearance | Flavor | Uses |
| Spring Onions | Large white bulb | Sweet, savory, and crispy | Beef, chicken, gravies, mashed potatoes, fish, and fettuccine |
| Chives | Thin leaves, do not have bulbs or cloves | Mild, oniony, and garlicky | Dipping sauces, deviled eggs, soups, stews, and sandwiches |
| Leeks | Large, bulbless, light green leaves | Sweet, mild, earthy | Bean dishes, risotto, pizza, salads, pasta, stews, and soups |
| Classic Green Onions | Small bulb, green leaves | Mild | Stir-fried dishes, soups, stews, salads, and Cajun dishes |
| Tokyo Negi | Long, bulbless | Sweet, savory, and mild | Kushiyaki, Nabemono, salad, pasta, and cream sauces |
| Red Beard | Red bulbs, smooth and tender green leaves | Mild and tender | Soups, salads |
| Calçot | Smooth and slender | Mild, juicy and crispy | Grilled on open fire |
| Chinese Onions | Thin green leaves, white bulb | Mild and fresh | Green onion pancakes, curries, pickled green onions |
Hawaiian Koba Green Onion
Koba green onion is a Hawaiian cultivar that is perfectly adapted to our climate. Koba is a short-day onion variety that produces numerous seeds during the winter.
Germination & Propagation
Plant the seeds 1/4 inch deep and 1/2 inch apart in moist, well prepared soil. The onions should emerge in 10 to 20 days at a temperature from 45 to 95 F.
One can also propagate green onion by re-growing the rooted end. Simply place the cut ends in a glass of water. Change the water every other day; more often is better. They should start growing back within a week.
Seeds are best stored in the refrigerator and can be purchased directly from us via our Seed Store. We get our seed stock directly from the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (C/T/A/H/R), University of Hawaii at Mānoa.
Planting
Once the seedlings have sprouted and are strong enough they can be transplanted into the garden. The rows should be 12 to 18 inches apart. Irrigate with sprinklers and do not let the soil dry out or form a crust.
Green onion also grows quite well in pots. Use the Best Hawaiian Soil Mix.
Sun and Water
Green onion are sun loving plants; six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day is ideal. Water every day, but not excessively.
Fertilizing
Like most onions, green onions only grow shallow roots, so most soil fertility must be in the top 3 to 6 inches of soil for the plants to access it. That means mild but regular feedings are best. Use a balanced low nitrogen fertilizer. Green onion need more potassion and phosphorus to do well.
Harvesting
Start by gently loosening up the soil around the plant using your fingers, then carefully pull out the entire plant. Remove the dirt from the roots or cut off the roots and the tip of the white stem using a serrated knife and your green onions will be ready for use.
The green materials can be harvested at any time directly from the plant and will grow back in a matter of weeks.
There are multiple parts to the green onion; the bulb or shallot, the white stem and the green leaves which all have distinctive mild oniony flavor profile.
