Green onions, also known as scallions, are a versatile ingredient that adds a punch of flavor and a host of health benefits to any dish. In Vietnamese cuisine, they are an indispensable component, and growing your own at home is easier than you think! With just a few simple tools and these three methods, you can enjoy fresh green onions all year round.
1. Growing Green Onions in an Egg Carton
Tools You’ll Need:
- 3 cardboard egg cartons
- 1 plastic bag
Steps to Grow Green Onions:
Take your three egg cartons and cover one of them with the plastic bag. Stack the other two cartons on top, ensuring they fit snugly together. This will serve as your mini greenhouse for the green onions.
Egg carton greenhouse
Gently place each shallot bulb into an individual cup of the egg carton. Fill the cups with water until it reaches halfway up the bulbs. Ensure the root end is pointing down and the sprout end is facing upward. This will encourage healthy root growth.
Note: Always position the bulbs with the root end down for optimal growth.
Planting shallot bulbs
Keep your egg carton greenhouse in a cool, shaded area, away from direct sunlight. Water the bulbs twice a day to maintain moisture in the cardboard. This will encourage not only root growth but also the healthy development of your green onions.
Caring for your green onions
The Result:
With consistent care and attention, you’ll be rewarded with a healthy batch of green onions ready for harvesting in as little as two weeks. That’s fresh, flavorful, and nutritious ingredients right at your fingertips!
Green onions grown in an egg carton
2. Growing Green Onions in a Styrofoam Box
Tools You’ll Need:
- 1 Styrofoam box
- 6 bottle caps
Steps to Grow Green Onions:
Use the bottle caps as a guide to measure and mark six spots on the lid of the box. Carefully cut out these spots with a knife. Then, cut the box in half and stack the two halves together, as shown in the image. This design allows for proper drainage while still retaining moisture for your green onions.
Styrofoam box design
To speed up growth, trim about a quarter of the sprout end of the shallot bulbs. Fill the box with water up to the lid, then carefully place a bulb in each of the six spots, ensuring the root end is pointing down. This method allows the bulbs to absorb water directly, promoting faster growth.
Placing shallot bulbs in the styrofoam box
With this method, you won’t need to worry about watering the bulbs manually. However, it’s crucial to change the water in the box every two days to ensure your plants absorb enough water and grow strong and healthy.
Caring for your green onions
The Result:
With proper care and maintenance, you’ll be greeted by an abundance of green onions in just two short weeks. That’s enough to add a delicious kick to all your favorite dishes!
Green onions grown in a styrofoam box
3. Growing Green Onions in a Pot
Tools You’ll Need:
- Potting soil
- 1 small planting pot
- 1 knife
Steps to Grow Green Onions:
Fill your planting pot with soil and water it thoroughly. Ensure the soil is completely moist before proceeding to the next step.
Preparing the potting soil
To encourage faster growth, trim about a quarter of the sprout end of the shallot bulbs. Then, bury the bulbs in the pot, leaving half of each bulb exposed above the soil. This allows for proper ventilation and growth.
Planting shallot bulbs in the pot
Water your plant generously, twice a day. Green onions thrive with ample water, so don’t be shy with your watering can!
Caring for your green onions
The Result:
Green onions are resilient and easy to grow. With enough water and care, you’ll soon have a thriving plant that will add flavor and nutrition to your meals.
“Grow Green Onions with These Two Easy Methods for a Year-Round Supply”
Growing green onions is a simple and easy task, and you can easily do it at home. All you need are some onion roots, and you can grow them in water (hydroponically) or in soil, using plastic bottles. This way, you not only get to enjoy fresh, clean greens but also have a beautiful, edible decoration in your home.