Green onions (also called scallions) grow straight, thin, and upright. They don't sprawl or take up much space; they simply point toward the sky. They are resilient, often being the first to pop up in spring and the last to fade in fall. They teach us about the "Narrow Path"—staying focused, growing upright in character, and remaining faithful even in the cold seasons of life.
Sunlight: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Soil: Loose, well-draining; they hate being waterlogged
Water: Consistent, shallow watering (roots are near the surface)
Temperature: Prefers cool weather (45-70°F); very hardy
Spacing: 1-2 inches apart (can be crowded)
Nutrient Needs:
Week 1-2: Germination (7-14 days); looks like a tiny blade of grass
Week 3-5: "Loop" stage (the sprout bends, then pulls its head out of the soil)
Week 6-8: Leaves become hollow tubes
Week 10-12: Reach pencil-thickness; ready for harvest
Perennial: Some varieties (like Bunching Onions) will come back every year if left in the ground.
Total: 60-70 days from seed; 20-30 days from "sets" (tiny bulbs)
The Guardian: The strong scent of onions helps confuse pests like carrot flies and aphids. They act as a "smell barrier" for more vulnerable plants.
Upright Space: Because they grow vertically, they can be "interplanted" between slower crops like cabbage or peppers without crowding them.
Friends & Helpers: Carrots (best friends!), Beets, Lettuce, Cabbage, Strawberries.
Avoid planting near: Beans and Peas (Onions stunt their growth!).
✓ Cut & Come Again: You can snip the green tops and leave the bulb in the ground; it will grow back!
✓ Blanching: Pile soil up around the base to get more of the "white" part of the onion.
✓ Weeding: Vital! Onions have tiny roots and can't compete with big weeds.
✓ Replant Scraps: You can put the root end of a store-bought green onion in water, then soil, and it will regrow.
Raw: Salads, tacos, baked potatoes, garnish | Cooked: Stir-fries, soups, omelets | Cultural: Used in almost every cuisine worldwide for a mild "bite." In the Bible, the Israelites remembered the onions of Egypt, but God provided better in the Promised Land.
Different from Bulb Onions: Green onions are harvested before a large bulb forms. They have hollow leaves, whereas some other alliums have flat leaves.
Similar to Chives: Both have hollow leaves and are perennial-like, but green onions have a more distinct white base.
Proverbs 4:25-27 — "Let your eyes look straight ahead"
"Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left."
The green onion grows straight and true, never veering. It reminds us to keep our eyes on Christ and walk the straight path he has set for us.
Ages 3–5: Smell the leaf. What does it smell like? Is the leaf a tube (hollow) or flat?
Ages 6–9: Can you find the "loop" where the onion is pulling itself out of the soil? Why does it grow that way?
Ages 10–13: Why is it helpful to plant onions next to carrots? (Hint: Think about the onion's strong smell and the carrot fly).
Allium fistulosum (Onion family)
Direct Sow or Sets: Seeds are tiny; "sets" (small bulbs) are easier for beginners.
Depth: Seeds 1/4 inch; Sets 1 inch.
Succession: Plant every 3 weeks for onions all season long.
The green onion is a "Resilient Walker." It doesn't need much space or perfect conditions to grow upright. It reminds us that we can be faithful in small spaces. Even a tiny garden (or a window box) can produce onions, just as even a small act of obedience is pleasing to God.
Varieties to try: Evergreen Hardy White (bunching), He-Shi-Ko (perennial), Tokyo Long White, Red Baron (red base).