7+ tips to follow for growing green onions that are full of flavor

Green onions are incredibly popular in home gardens because they are easy to grow, have a tremendous amount of uses within the kitchen, and grow much quicker than traditional onions. Their quick growth occurs because it's not necessary to wait for the bulb to develop. Within a few weeks you can have plants ready for a harvest!

Touted as one of the easiest garden plants to grow, you will have better success by using the following tips.

As soon as the garden soil can be worked, you can go ahead and plant your onions. Sow seeds and cover with about 1/2" of soil; when seeds germinate they can be thinned to every 1 to 1.5". Onion sets should be pressed into the soil and spaced approximately 2" apart.

Being a leafy vegetable, it's imperative that green onions have plenty of sunlight for growth. Plant seeds or seed sets in full sun spots that receive 6 - 8 hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight every day.

Work 3-4" of well decomposed compost or other organic matter into the soil before planting your green onions. They prefer soil that is friable and well drained. A bulbous root system needs soil that doesn't have large clumps or clods so roots can grow freely, without obstructions.

For the best flavored green onions, plant in soil that has a pH of 6.0 - 7.5. If you need to amend your soil Today's Homeowner walks you through the basics for soils that are both too acidic and too alkaline.

Green onions will benefit immensely from an application of blood meal at the time of planting. Blood meal is a natural fertilizer source made from dried, powdered animal blood. It is a well known source of nitrogen fertilizer and will encourage rapid shoot development and good foliage growth. Plant Care Today explains in detail how to use blood meal in the garden, and why it is so effective.

After the green onions have sprouted and begin to put up green tops, spread mulch over the growing bed, between the shoots. This will help to keep weed competition low and retain soil moisture.

Dig up or pull green onions when their tops are approximately 6-8" tall. They are best picked when plants are younger and the bulbs just begin to swell. It is important to not just cut the tops off for use leaving the bulbs and roots behind; if you'd like to regrow green onions from your scraps, replant instead.

Green onions will grow very quickly -- an advantageous aspect of having them in your garden -- so it's important to plant a new crop every 3-4 weeks throughout the growing season if you'd like to harvest all season long.