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From the blog...
How to Grow and Endless Supply of Green Onions
... all year round.
No soil. No mess. No excuses.
If you're looking for the easiest edible plant to grow indoors, green onions (aka scallions) are our favorite! Green onions are SO versatile and add depth to so many different types of dishes, that it is easily one of the main go-to's we grow all through the year.
The crazy thing is that you don’t need a garden, pots, or even soil. All you need is a glass, water, and a sunny spot—and you can keep harvesting from the same stems over and over.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to growing green onions indoors, endlessly.
Why Green Onions?
If you didn't read the above, here's the TL;DR version:
▹ Crazy fast regrowth: Ready to re-harvest in under 10 days
▹ Very minimal space needed: Grows in a cup on a windowsill (don't get much more minimal than that!
▹ No soil required: Clean and low-maintenance
▹ So many endless uses: Chop them into everything—eggs, stir-fries, soups, tacos
Quick tip:
Be sure to thin them early to prevent overcrowding, which can cause stunted growth. Leave the stunts to the rabbits trying to get them!
Here's the Step by Step:
Step 1: Save the White Root Ends
This is so easy, it's almost criminal to NOT do this... Next time you buy a bunch of green onions, don’t toss the root ends.
▹ Trim the green tops off, leaving about 1–2 inches of white stem attached to the roots
▹ You'll use the greens in your cooking, but be sure to...
▹ Set aside the 1-2 inch white bottoms for your (ever)green onion production
Quick tip:
If you're not ready to "plant" them right away, you can simply wrap them up in a wet paper towel, put them in a plastic bag, and you can keep them in the fridge for several days!
Step 2: Set Up the Water Glass
Place the root ends in a small glass or jar with just enough water to cover the roots—about ½ inch deep.
▹ Be sure to not submerge the whole stem
▹ Keep the tops exposed to air to prevent rot
▹ Use a narrow glass to help the stalks stay upright, or
▹ If you have enough that you can create a stable bunch, you can use some cotton string to lightly tie them together, then set them in bottom of the container together
Quick tip:
Super Important! Change the water every 2–3 days to keep it fresh and bacteria/rot-free. Keep them someplace that you will see them every day so you remember!
Step 3: Place in Bright, Indirect Light
Put your glass on a windowsill that gets decent sunlight—south or east-facing windows work best.
▹ You’ll see green shoots start to emerge within 24–48 hours
▹ Within 5–7 days, the tops will be 4–6 inches tall
Quick tip:
If light is limited from your access to windows in the right direction of because of short, winter days, you can use a small grow light or even a desk lamp with a daylight (5000K) bulb.
Step 4: Harvest and Repeat
Once the greens reach usable height, snip what you need with scissors—leave at least an inch of growth above the waterline so it keeps regrowing.
You can harvest from the same root ends 3–5 times before they start to slow down.
Quick tip:
Buy more green onions at the store so you can rotate in new root ends every few weeks. When you get the rhythm, you'll have a constant supply!
Step 5 (Optional): Transfer to Soil for Longer Growth
This is the "Garden Ninja" approach... not because it's hard, but rather because it's SO EASY!
If you want stronger, thicker green onions or to grow them for longer than a few weeks:
▹ Transplant the regrown roots into a small pot of soil
▹ Keep them by a sunny window and water when the top inch of soil feels dry
▹ Soil-grown green onions last much longer and develop fuller flavor, AND growing your own this way means you'll have even more to harvest from the fast way.
Quick tip:
Harvest your scallions when they reach pencil thickness - thinner if you want them extra tender.
Green onions really are the perfect entry point into indoor gardening because pretty much fool-proof (if I can do it, anyone can!) They grow fast, require almost no effort, and reward you and your tastebuds over and over. It’s one of the best low-commitment, high-reward crops you can grow indoors—especially if you cook often.
With Love, Light and Endless Green Garden Growth,
The 10x Blue Garden Pro
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