Italian red bunching onions, also known as spring onions or scallions, are an unusual variety. Unlike other red onions, these scallions will not form bulbs but still deliver the same great taste that you would expect from a red onion and with an added bonus of being able to eat the green tops as well!

If left unharvested, Italian red bunching onions will flower and happily reseed in the garden.

Sowing Seed Indoors

• Onion seed may be started indoors in small flats in seed starting mix 6-10 weeks before the last frost.
• Sow thinly and cover with ¼ inch of seed starting formula. Keep moist and maintain a temperature of about 60-65 degrees F.
• Seedlings emerge in 7-14 days.
• As soon as seedlings emerge, provide plenty of light on a sunny windowsill or grow seedlings 3-4 inches beneath fluorescent plant lights turned on 16 hours per day, off for 8 hours at night. Raise the lights as the plants grow. Incandescent bulbs do not work because they get too hot. Most plants require a dark period to grow, do not leave lights on for 24 hours.
• Seedlings do not need much fertilizer, feed when they are 3-4 weeks old using a starter solution (half strength of a complete indoor houseplant food) according to manufacturer’s directions.
• After danger of a heavy frost plant the seedlings in the garden when they are about the thickness of a pencil. Before planting in the garden, seedling plants need to be “hardened off”. Accustom young plants to outdoor conditions by moving them to a sheltered place outside for a week. Be sure to protect them from wind and hot sun at first. If frost threatens at night, cover or bring containers indoors, then take them out again in the morning. This hardening off process toughens cell structure and reduces transplant shock and sun burn.
• Space 3-4 inches apart in rows 1-2 feet apart. Plant more closely if you plan to harvest scallions.

Soil Preparation in the Garden

• Choose a location in full sun where you did not plant onions the previous year.
• Apply a balanced fertilizer and work into the soil prior to planting. Onions prefer a pH of 6.0 – 7.0.
• Onions prefer an organic soil that drains well. Work organic matter into your soil at least 6-8 inches deep, removing stones, then level and smooth.

Sowing Directly in the Garden

• Sow onion seeds in average soil in full sun after danger of frost in spring. In frost free areas, sow in fall.
• Sow thinly in rows 1- 2 feet apart and cover with ¼ inch of fine soil. Firm lightly and keep evenly moist.
• Seedlings emerge in 7-14 days.
• Thin to stand about 3 inches apart when seedlings are 1- 2 inches high.

*Please note: Because our seeds are collected by hand, without the use of machines, there may be a small amount of plant matter present in the seed packets.