Scallions vs Green Onions: Names Types plus Growing
In the scallions vs green onions question, the names mostly overlap. NC State Extension lists green onion, scallion plus spring onion among the common names for Allium cepa. University of Minnesota Extension groups scallions with bunching onions, which have green stalks, while young bulb onions pulled early also serve as green onions.
The short answer
Scallions vs green onions is largely a naming question. NC State Extension lists green onion, scallion plus spring onion as common names for the onion. University of Minnesota Extension notes bunching onions, including scallions, have green stalks. Utah State University Extension adds that young bulb onions thinned from a row can be used as green onions.
Are scallions plus green onions the same plant?
Largely yes. The NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox lists green onion, onion, scallion, shallot plus spring onion as common names for Allium cepa. It describes the leaves as long plus green with hollow round stems, plus notes both the bulbs plus tops are harvested.
| Trait | Scallion (bunching onion) | Green onion from a bulb onion |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A bunching onion with green stalks | A young bulb onion pulled early |
| Where it comes from | Grown as a bunching type | Thinnings from a row of bulb onions |
| Example | Evergreen White Bunching, a mild green onion | Thinnings of any bulb variety |
Sources: University of Minnesota Extension plus Utah State University Extension.
What are bunching onions?
University of Minnesota Extension notes bunching onions, including scallions plus Egyptian walking onions, have green stalks. Utah State University Extension names Evergreen White Bunching as a good mild green onion. Bulb types such as Utah Sweet Spanish or Walla Walla are grown for their bulbs instead.
How are green onions grown plus harvested?
Utah State University Extension advises planting seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep in rows 8 to 16 inches apart, with plants 3 to 4 inches apart. If planted closer, thin to that spacing plus use the pulled plants as green onions. Onions need regular watering, plus organic mulch helps conserve water.
How to: step by step
- Choose a sunny spot with fertile, well drained soil.
- Mix organic matter into the soil before planting.
- Sow seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep in rows spaced 8 to 16 inches.
- Thin plants to 3 to 4 inches apart plus use the thinnings as green onions.
- Water often so the soil stays moist.
- Regrow store bought green onions from their white base in water.
Troubleshooting
Small, weak plants: too little sun or water. University of Minnesota Extension notes all onions need full sun plus constant moisture.
Crowded rows: seeds sown too close. Utah State University Extension advises thinning to 3 to 4 inches plus harvesting the thinnings.
Regrown shoots fade: the bulb used up its reserves. Iowa State University Extension notes regrown bulbs produce shoots for a few months.
For related reading see cannabis leaf anatomy, companion plants when growing marijuana plus raised beds for cannabis. Kind Seed Co also stocks cannabis seeds.
Sources
- Growing onions in home gardens, University of Minnesota Extension
- How to grow onions in your garden, Utah State University Extension
- How to grow vegetables from kitchen scraps, Iowa State University Extension
- Allium cepa (onion), NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
FAQ
Can green onions regrow after cutting?
Yes. Iowa State University Extension suggests setting the white base with roots attached in a jar with enough water to cover the roots, in a warm sunny spot. Green shoots appear in a week or two. Change the water weekly. The bulbs produce shoots for a few months before their reserves run out.
Do green onions need full sun?
Yes. University of Minnesota Extension notes all onions need full sun for good growth plus soil high in organic matter with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Utah State University Extension adds that onions need regular watering, since water stress reduces yields, while organic mulch helps conserve moisture plus reduce weeds.
Are spring onions the same as scallions?
The names overlap. The NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox lists spring onion, scallion plus green onion all as common names for Allium cepa, the garden onion. Seed catalogs may use the names differently, so read the variety description to see whether it is a bunching type or a bulb onion.
Can scallions grow in pots?
Yes. Iowa State University Extension notes that once regrown shoots reach about 4 to 5 inches, the bulb can go into a container or be moved into the garden. For spring planting, start the process around February plus transplant after the last frost. Use a sunny spot with moist, well drained soil.
Can green onion tops be harvested?
Yes. The NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox notes both the bulbs plus tops of Allium cepa are harvested. Iowa State University Extension suggests cutting the green tops, then rooting the white bases with roots attached in water so they send up new shoots that can be clipped as needed over a few months.
