How long does it take scallions to grow

Scallions, also called green onions or bunching onions, are one of the fastest crops you can grow. From seed, most varieties are ready to harvest in 50 to 70 days. If you plant sets (small bulbs), you can pull them in just 30 to 40 days. That is the short answer. The exact time depends on the variety, the season, and whether you start from seed or sets. In this guide, I will give you the real numbers, the best varieties for speed, and the steps to get a steady supply all season.

Why scallions are the quick win of the onion family

Scallions do not form a big bulb, so they put all their energy into leafy growth. That is why they are faster than bulb onions, which need 100 to 120 days. You can harvest scallions at any size, from pencil thin to almost leek-like. This flexibility means you are not waiting for a specific maturity date. You can start pulling them as soon as they are big enough to use, usually around 50 days from seed.

Seed vs. sets: which is faster?

If you want the quickest possible harvest, plant sets. Sets are small, dormant bulbs that have already grown for one season. They sprout within days and are ready to pull in 30 to 40 days. The tradeoff is cost and variety. Sets cost about $8 to $12 per pound, and you are limited to common varieties like ‘Evergreen Hardy White’ or ‘Red Beard’. Seeds cost $3 to $5 per packet, give you hundreds of plants, and open up a wider range of varieties, but they add 2 to 3 weeks to the timeline.

Best scallion varieties for speed and flavor

These are the varieties I have grown and trust for fast, reliable harvests:

• ‘Evergreen Hardy White’: A classic bunching onion, ready in 60 days from seed. It is cold hardy and can be overwintered in zones 5 and warmer.
• ‘Red Beard’: A red-stemmed scallion with a mild, sweet flavor. Ready in 60 days from seed, 35 from sets.
• ‘Tokyo Long White’: A Japanese variety that is quick to mature, about 55 days. It has a crisp, white base and is excellent for salads.
• ‘Parade’: A hybrid that is uniform and fast, ready in 50 days from seed. Good for spring and fall crops.

If you are in a hurry, ‘Parade’ or ‘Tokyo Long White’ are your best bets from seed. For sets, any standard variety will be ready in about a month.

Planting times for continuous harvest

Scallions are cool-season crops. They germinate best when soil temperatures are between 50°F and 75°F. In most zones, you can plant in early spring as soon as the ground can be worked, and again in late summer for a fall crop. Here is a zone-by-zone guide for direct sowing:

USDA Zone	Spring planting window	Fall planting window
3-4	April to May	July to August
5-6	March to April	August to September
7-8	February to March	September to October
9-10	January to February	October to November

To have a continuous harvest, sow a new row every 2 to 3 weeks during the growing season. This is called succession planting. For example, in zone 6, you might sow on March 15, April 1, April 15, and so on. Each sowing will be ready about 50 to 60 days later, so you will have scallions from May through October.

How to plant scallions for fastest growth

Scallions are not fussy, but a few steps will speed them up:

1. Prepare the soil: Loosen the top 6 inches and mix in a 1-inch layer of compost. Scallions like a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. If your soil is heavy clay, consider a raised bed or container.
2. Sow seeds: Plant seeds 1/4 inch deep, spaced 1 inch apart in rows 12 inches apart. If you are planting sets, push them into the soil so the tip is just at the surface, spaced 2 inches apart.
3. Water well: Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Scallions have shallow roots, so they dry out quickly. A soaker hose or drip irrigation works best.
4. Thin seedlings: When seedlings are 2 inches tall, thin them to 2 inches apart. You can use the thinnings as microgreens in salads.
5. Fertilize lightly: Side-dress with a balanced organic fertilizer, like a 10-10-10, when plants are 4 inches tall. Too much nitrogen can make them floppy, so go easy.

Harvesting at the right time

You can start harvesting scallions as soon as they are 6 to 8 inches tall, which might be as early as 40 days from seed if conditions are ideal. But for a full-sized scallion, wait until the stalk is about 1/2 inch thick, usually 50 to 70 days. To harvest, loosen the soil with a trowel and pull the whole plant. If you want a cut-and-come-again approach, you can snip the green tops at 2 inches above the soil, leaving the roots in place. The plant will regrow, giving you a second harvest in about 3 weeks. This works best for bunching onions, not for bulb-forming types.

Common problems that slow growth

• Cold soil: If you plant too early, seeds may rot or germinate slowly. Wait until soil is at least 50°F.
• Heat stress: Scallions bolt (send up a flower stalk) when temperatures exceed 80°F for extended periods. In hot zones, plant them in partial shade or use shade cloth.
• Overcrowding: If you do not thin, plants compete for nutrients and stay small. Thinning is essential for fast growth.
• Pests: Onion maggots and thrips can set back growth. Use row covers in early spring to prevent maggot flies from laying eggs.

FAQ

Can I grow scallions indoors?

Yes. Use a pot at least 6 inches deep with drainage holes. Place it in a sunny windowsill or under a grow light for 12 to 14 hours a day. From seed, expect 60 to 70 days to harvest. From sets, about 40 days.

How many scallions can I expect from one seed packet?

A typical packet contains 100 to 200 seeds. If you plant them all and thin to 2 inches apart, you will get roughly 50 to 100 mature scallions, depending on spacing and losses.

What is the difference between scallions, green onions, and spring onions?

Scallions and green onions are the same thing: onions harvested before the bulb forms. Spring onions are slightly more mature, with a small bulb at the base. You can grow any onion variety as a scallion by harvesting early, but bunching onions (Allium fistulosum) are specifically bred for this purpose.

Do scallions regrow after cutting?

Yes, if you leave the roots in the ground and cut the tops, they will regrow. This works best for bunching onions. You can get 2 to 3 cuttings before the plant runs out of energy.

The bottom line

Scallions are one of the quickest vegetables you can grow. From seed, plan on 50 to 70 days; from sets, 30 to 40 days. Choose fast varieties like ‘Parade’ or ‘Tokyo Long White’, plant in cool weather, and sow every few weeks for a nonstop supply. With minimal effort, you will have fresh scallions from early summer to frost. Start now, and you will be pulling your first crop in under two months.