Allium
Spring Onion
Allium fistulosum
Regrow from kitchen scraps in water then pot up.
Full to partial
Regular
Average
Very easy
Yes
Whole plant
Annual
Hardy
2 L
12 cm
Root
Carrot
Muddles carrot fly with onion volatiles — classic combo.
Leafy green
Lettuce
Spring onions repel aphids and leafminers attacking lettuce while their shallow roots avoid competing with lettuce's nutrient zone.
Root
Beetroot
Spring onions deter thrips and aphids while their shallow roots avoid nutrient competition with developing beets.
Situations where this plant is a reliable fit — from someone's kitchen sill to a wind-blown rooftop.
Windowsill
Bright indoor light, small pot, no outdoor access — the classic kitchen sill.
Workplace desk
Office corner, moderate light, forgiving of weekends away.
Balcony
A few pots on a flat outdoor perch — some sun, some wind.
Ladder planter
A tilted step-ladder with a shallow tray on each rung — sun-facing, five tiers of herbs, salad and strawberries in the footprint of one pot.
Gutter garden
Lengths of plastic rain gutter stacked on a wall or fence — only 10 cm deep, but perfect for cut-and-come-again salad, spring onions and shallow-rooted herbs.
Wooden crate
A shallow wine or veg crate lined with hessian — perfect for salad and shallow-rooted herbs.
Raised bed
A traditional plot or timber-sided bed — deepest root run, widest planting choice.
Water jar
A jam jar of water on the sill — no soil at all. Regrow from kitchen scraps.
Root in water, transfer to soil
7 days
★★★★★
Yes
How to do it
Trim off the green tops to eat, then stand the bottom 3 cm (with the white roots intact) in a glass with 1 cm of water on a sunny windowsill. Refresh the water every 2 days. New green shoots appear in 3–4 days.
What to expect
Indefinite — keep snipping the green tops and the same root will regrow for months.
Honest note
After 2–3 cycles flavour fades; move to a small pot of compost to extend life.
Where to source
Get growing in United Kingdom
Shop local first
The best plants come from a real nursery, and the best trowel comes from the old-fashioned ironmonger down the road — people who know their stock and can advise. Try local first, both for the plant and the kit. It keeps small growers and small hardware shops alive.
Searching near London
For pots, compost, seed trays, twine and other kit — Amazon has the essentials if the local option isn't right. Not a plant nursery; use the local map above for the plant itself.
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