Onion (Perennial) Growing Guide

Allium fistulosum

Crop Rotation Group

Allium (Onion family) ●

Soil

Any average, well-drained soil.

Position

Full sun to partial afternoon shade.

Frost tolerant

Multiplying onions and other perennial strains are typically hardy to -15C (-26F) when given a protective winter mulch.

Feeding

Mulch the soil with compost before planting.

Companions

Often grouped with other perennials.

Spacing

Single Plants: 15cm (5") each way (minimum)
Rows: 15cm (5") with 15cm (5") row gap (minimum)

Sow and Plant

Start with purchased bulblets or corms, set out 10 to 16 weeks before your first autumn frost, or in early autumn.
Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area.

Notes

Most perennial onions grow vigorously in early spring and die back in midsummer. These interesting yet variable plants resemble shallots more than other onions.

Harvesting

Harvest bulblets from topsetting onions and use them as pearl onions in the kitchen. When plants die back, cured roots often yield a small shallot. In spring or autumn, you can cut off small divisions for use as spring onions.