Spring onion bulbs are those used in cooking. They’re smaller than their summer counterparts and generally have a milder taste. For this reason, they’re less popular in the garden. Yet they provide much more flavor when eaten raw or cooked.

To grow spring onions properly, you’ll need to start them in late spring or early summer, following the last frost. Dig a hole about eight inches deep, then spread half of the soil in the hole with your fingers, just as if you were planting vegetables. Cover the hole with a plastic bottle lid, leaving a small opening for draining. Keep your eyes open for sunlight during the day and look out for moisture, dark clay soils, hills or fences, and weeds.

When growing spring onions, you want to keep your plants as far away from weeds as possible. They can climb up walls and can grow very fast. As long as they have enough space to grow, you don’t want to put them under other plants. If you do, the roots may spread to the other plants and cause them to have problems. Cover the soil in the hole with a plastic bottle lid, leaving a small opening for draining.

Plant two-thirds of the spring onions in the jar. Add half a cup of bone meal and a half cup of vinegar to the mix, if using it to make juice. Fill the hole in the bottom of the jar with water and let the plant take in the nutrient-filled mixture. Place the container in a sunny place, away from trees or other shade creating more light. The seeds will be exposed to the sun for a few weeks, but they won’t germinate and produce fruit if there is no air or light in the container.

When the vegetables are young and just starting to sprout, you can use the rest of the bottle as a water container. Over the next few weeks, you can switch the container out for a larger one or a wooden box, or recycle any old containers that you have in your kitchen. As the vegetables mature, they will continue to be in suspended animation, similar to flowers. You can cover the container and keep it closed during the winter so that the vegetables don’t freeze. After about one year, your spring onions will be fully developed, and you can remove them from the pots and place them on your dinner table.

For best results when sprouting your own spring onions, fertilize your soil as soon as you plant them. Fertilizer will give the root more calories, making it easier for them to sprout. In addition to fertilizing the soil, add fertilizer to the first couple of days after planting. Don’t use any kind of fertilizer if you are not growing a garden or if you aren’t growing vegetables or fruits that need a lot of nutrients.

After your bulbs sprout, you will have to maintain their health. Keep them well watered as needed, but don’t drown them. If your soil is too dry, you should water your spring onions frequently. Remove any weeds that are surrounding the bulbs, cut off any overhanging limbs, and check regularly for damaged leaves or other signs of disease. Maintain the correct moisture level by using a humidity meter to gauge the moisture in the air.

To enjoy your spring onions, do give them the best care that you can. Remember, the more care you give them, the better they will grow and produce. Follow these tips to healthy and great looking spring onions.