How to Harvest Onion Leaves

Onion leaves, called green onions or spring onions, have a mild onion flavor compared to the stronger bulbs. You can plant bulbs solely for green onion production by spacing them more closely together than bulb onions in the garden. You can also harvest the green tops from your bulbing onions once, early in the growing season, then leave the foliage to grow on naturally as the plant begins to produce a bulb. Green onions are ready for harvesting in as little as one month from planting.

Shears

Instructions

- 1
  Cut the green tops when the leaves reach 6 inches in length, if you prefer a mild onion for use in salads or other uncooked dishes. Harvest longer, more mature leaves if you prefer a strong onion flavor most suitable for cooked dishes.
- 2
  Snip the green onions off just above soil level with a pair of garden shears. Leaving the roots in place allows the plant to grow fresh foliage for harvesting or develop into a full-sized onion, depending on your garden preference.
- 3
  Harvest the onion leaves a second time when they reach the desired length, unless you prefer the plant to produce an onion bulb. Harvest the entire plant, including the small bulb. Use the bulb fresh or cooked as you do the leaves.

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