When to plant Spring Onions in Brighton
Allium cepa
Spring onions are a fast salad onion for the UK garden. Sow little and often through spring and summer, or sow a winter-hardy variety to pick next spring. They take little space and grow well in pots.
30 cm · Full Sun · Moderate Water
Calibrated to Brighton · average last frost around 10 Apr
| Activity | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow outdoors | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Harvest | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Growing guide
What to do through the growing season
Growing guide for
Change the guide to see different planting timelines and tips.
Sow a winter-hardy variety in autumn and overwinter it for an early spring harvest.
01
Sow Seeds in Autumn
17 Sept to 7 OctSow a winter-hardy variety, such as White Lisbon Winter Hardy, from 17th September - 7th October. Sow deep in an open, sunny spot. If the weather is dry, keep the seedbed moist so they germinate before winter.
02
Winter Care
11 Nov to 21 Mar 2028Keep the bed weed-free through 11th November - 21st March 2028. Cover with fleece or a cloche in hard frost. The soil must drain well, or plants rot.
03
Thin in Spring
11 Mar to 10 Apr 2028When growth resumes, around 11th March - 10th April 2028, thin to apart if the row is crowded.
04
Harvest
21 Mar to 4 Jun 2028 Dates as each sowing reaches this stagePull overwintered spring onions from 21st March 2028 once they are pencil-thick. Keep picking through 4th June 2028. They are ready earlier than spring-sown rows. Use them fresh.
Companion plants
Tap a plant to see why it works (or doesn't) with Spring Onion.
Good companions
Plants to avoid
Why companion planting matters
Companion planting can deter pests, improve pollination, and make better use of space. Some plants confuse pests or attract beneficial insects; others improve soil or offer shade to neighbours that need it.
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Calabrese
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Spring Onion guides by town
See how Spring Onion timing shifts in other towns with different frost dates.