When to plant Spring Onions in York
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 York · average last frost around 26 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 | No | No | No |
| Harvest | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 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
4 Sept to 24 SeptSow a winter-hardy variety, such as White Lisbon Winter Hardy, from 4th September - 24th September. Sow deep in an open, sunny spot. If the weather is dry, keep the seedbed moist so they germinate before winter.
02
Winter Care
29 Oct to 8 Mar 2027Keep the bed weed-free through 29th October - 8th March 2027. Cover with fleece or a cloche in hard frost. The soil must drain well, or plants rot.
03
Thin in Spring
27 Mar to 26 Apr 2027When growth resumes, around 27th March - 26th April 2027, thin to apart if the row is crowded.
04
Harvest
8 Mar to 22 May 2027 Dates as each sowing reaches this stagePull overwintered spring onions from 8th March 2027 once they are pencil-thick. Keep picking through 22nd May 2027. 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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Spring Onion guides by town
See how Spring Onion timing shifts in other towns with different frost dates.