# Growing Scallions at Home
Unlike what the labels at the grocery store state, the green, hollow leaves of the young common onion are not scallions. Sometimes called green onions, scallions are cultivars of Allium cepa, a type of bulbing onion. Commonly grown cultivars include "White Lisbon" and "Crystal Wax." Unlike the immature common onion, the scallion has a long white stalk, according to horticulturists with the University of Nebraska. Scallions are a cool-weather, short-season crop. Horticulturists with the University of Illinois Extension recommend that home gardeners use starter sets from the nursery.
Things You'll Need
- Rototiller or shovel
- Coarse sand
- Ammonium nitrate
Instructions
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1
Pulverize the soil with a rototiller or shovel until it is powdery.
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2
Amend heavy soil with 3 to 4 inches of coarse sand. Scallions thrive in sandy loam soil.
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3
Plant the scallions 1 inch deep and right up against one another. Water the soil to a depth of 5 inches after planting and water once a week to the same depth.
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4
Side dress the scallions with nitrogen once a week. Use ammonium nitrate at the rate on the label. To apply, dig a 2-inch deep trench, 2 inches to the side of the scallions. Sprinkle the ammonium nitrate on the bottom of the trench, cover it with soil and water to a depth of 4 inches.
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5
Harvest the scallion when the stalk is between 1/4 and 3/4 inches in diameter. This generally occurs within 60 to 70 days of transplanting.
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