Spring Onions in York
Allium cepa
Spring onions are fast-growing, mild-flavoured onions grown for their green stems and small bulbs. They are easy to grow and can be sown in succession for a continuous harvest. Hardy varieties can even be sown in late autumn to overwinter for an early spring crop. Spring onions don't take much space and grow well in containers or between slower-growing vegetables.
- Height
- 30cm
- Sunlight
- Full Sun
- Water
- Moderate Water
Growing Guide
Step-by-step instructions for growing Spring Onion
Planting Calendar
Growing Guide for
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Guide for sowing spring onions in autumn to overwinter for an early spring harvest.
Sow Seeds in Autumn
31 Aug – 7 OctAugust to October is a good time to sow a winter-hardy spring onion variety (e.g. 'White Lisbon') for overwintering. Sow seeds about deep in an open, sunny spot. If autumn weather is dry, keep the seed bed moist to encourage germination before winter sets in.
Winter Care
25 Oct – 4 MarAs temperatures drop, ensure the bed is weed-free and protect seedlings in extreme cold. If hard frosts or snow are expected, cover the young plants with fleece or a cloche. Good drainage is important over winter to prevent the onions rotting in waterlogged soil.
Thin in Spring
24 Feb – 30 AprWhen growth resumes in early spring, thin the overwintered seedlings to apart if they are crowded. Thinning in spring will give the remaining onions space to swell before harvest.
Harvest
22 Mar – 16 MayOverwintered spring onions will be ready to harvest in spring, earlier than spring-sown crops. Pull them up from about March to May once they reach a good size. Enjoy them fresh, as their flavour is best straight from the garden.
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.
Related Plants
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Basil
Basil is a fragrant, tender herb whose leaves are a staple of summer cooking. Native to tropical regions, basil is treated as an annual in temperate climates like the UK because it cannot tolerate frost. It thrives in warm, sunny conditions and can be grown in garden beds or pots for a steady supply of fresh, flavourful leaves throughout the summer.
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are a hardy winter brassica (cabbage family) that form sturdy, leafy stems often around 60–90cm tall. They produce edible mini-cabbage buds along the stem from autumn through winter. Thanks to their cold tolerance, sprouts remain productive into late winter, and frost actually improves their sweetness.
Calabrese
Calabrese (broccoli) produces a large central head of tightly-packed green buds, followed by smaller side-shoots after the main head is cut. It’s a cool-season brassica crop. Grow it in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil and keep plants watered during dry spells. Harvest the heads while firm, then leave the stem in the ground to allow side-shoots to develop.
Also in nearby towns
See how Spring Onion timing shifts in other towns with different frost dates.