Domakihub How to Grow Spring Onions at Home, on the Balcony or in a Pot
A fast-growing, low-maintenance crop that rewards any space — from a kitchen windowsill to a hotel terrace planter.
Reviewed by Domakihub garden pros · 2026-06-23 · 5 min read
Spring onions (Allium fistulosum) are one of the easiest crops to grow in the Greek climate, and they mature quickly enough to keep a steady supply going through much of the year. Whether you manage a holiday villa with a courtyard, run a boutique hotel with a rooftop garden, or simply want fresh greens on your apartment balcony, the steps are the same. The video above walks through three practical growing methods; this article gives you the full sequence from soil preparation to harvest so you can get started today.
Why Spring Onions Are Ideal for Greek Properties
Spring onions thrive in the mild Greek winters and warm springs, giving you harvests when most other vegetables are still getting established. Their compact root system means they grow happily in pots, raised beds, window boxes, or any underused corner of a terrace, making them a natural fit for properties where outdoor space is limited.
For holiday rental hosts and hotel managers, having a living herb and salad garden is increasingly valued by guests. A small planter of spring onions alongside herbs like parsley and mint signals freshness and care — and the greens can go directly into a welcome salad or breakfast omelette.
Choosing the Right Method and Container
You can grow spring onions three ways: from seed direct-sown into soil, from transplanted seedlings started indoors, or by regrowing the root bases of shop-bought bunches in water before potting on. Each method works in Greece; starting from seed gives the most plants for the least cost, while regrowing bases is the fastest route to a first harvest.
Any container at least 15 cm deep will work — a standard terracotta pot, a window box, a recycled olive-oil tin, or a purpose-built planter trough. Good drainage is the only non-negotiable. Free-draining, fertile compost mixed with a little perlite or coarse sand suits the Greek summer heat better than dense potting soil alone.
5 Steps to Growing Spring Onions
- 1
Prepare your container and compost
Fill your chosen pot or bed with a mix of good-quality multipurpose compost and roughly 20 percent perlite or coarse sand to ensure drainage. Spring onions hate waterlogged roots. Leave 2-3 cm of space at the top so watering does not wash seeds out. If reusing old compost, refresh it with a handful of slow-release granular fertiliser.
- 2
Sow seeds thinly in rows or scatter-sow
Sow spring onion seeds about 1 cm deep and space them roughly 1 cm apart in rows 10 cm apart, or scatter them evenly across a wide pot. There is no need to thin them once germinated — the mild crowding actually keeps stems straight and upright. Water gently with a rose head or misting nozzle so the seeds are not displaced. In Greece, you can sow from late August through to April for a near-year-round harvest; avoid the hottest midsummer months.
- 3
Water consistently but do not overwater
Keep the compost evenly moist after sowing. Germination takes 7-14 days. Once seedlings are up, water when the top centimetre of compost feels dry. In the dry Greek summer, this may mean watering every day for outdoor pots; in cooler months every 2-3 days is usually enough. A drip tray under the pot helps retain moisture but empty it after heavy rain to prevent root rot.
- 4
Feed lightly and protect from the midday sun in summer
After seedlings reach about 10 cm, apply a diluted liquid nitrogen-rich fertiliser (such as a liquid seaweed feed or balanced liquid feed) every two to three weeks. In summer, move pots to a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade, or shade outdoor beds with a 30 percent shade cloth during the peak heat of July and August. Cooler temperatures in spring and autumn need no shading at all.
- 5
Harvest progressively to extend the crop
Spring onions are ready to pull when the green tops are 20-30 cm tall and the white base is pencil-thick, typically 8-12 weeks from seed. Rather than harvesting the whole pot at once, pull every second plant to give neighbours more room to bulk up. You can also snip the green tops with scissors — they will regrow one or two times before the plant is exhausted. After the main crop, drop the trimmed root bases into a glass of water on a sunny windowsill and they will sprout again within days for a bonus harvest.
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FAQ
- Can I grow spring onions year-round in Greece?
- Almost. You can sow from late August through April without any protection. In the peak summer months (June to August) germination is unreliable in full sun and plants bolt quickly, so it is best to skip a direct summer sowing or use shade cloth and grow in a cooler, semi-shaded spot instead.
- Do spring onions need full sun?
- They prefer at least four to six hours of direct sun per day for the best growth, but they tolerate partial shade better than most vegetables. In Greece's warm climate, afternoon shade in summer actually improves quality by slowing the plants down and keeping the stems tender rather than tough and pithy.
- How do I stop spring onions from going to flower (bolting)?
- Bolting is triggered by heat and long days. To delay it, water consistently, choose varieties labelled 'slow-to-bolt', harvest progressively before the plants are fully mature, and provide afternoon shade in summer. Once a plant sends up a flower stalk the white base becomes woody and loses flavour, so harvest it immediately at that point.