Green Onions From Your Garbage

Green Onions from your Garbage

By Joseph Parish

This is one of my shorter instructional articles simply because the green onion is one of the easiest things to grow. My wife and I have done this garden project for a number of years is to regrow store bought green onions. The process is straightforward and simple. This is an excellent experiment for children as it teaches them the value of growing plants as well as the process of conservation. Green onions are also known as scallions or spring onions and are generally sold with the end still attached. Usually, this is the portion which is tossed into the garbage bin but not anymore. These roots will quickly regrow a new onion. When Pam and I first started this process, we would trim the onions weekly, taking the green portion and slicing it into small pieces to be dehydrated. The result was an abundance of dried onion greens which could be used in soups, salad and stews.

To accomplish this project merely slice off the ends of the onion where the roots are growing. Make sure when you slice off the bulbs that you leave the roots attached to them. Take the bulbs and place them in some soil making certain that it is kept moist. Set them on a window ledge or as we have done on pour front porch. Within a few days the green shoots will begin to emerge from the tops of the bulbs. The rest is easy, simply keep them watered and new onions will emerge rather quickly. We have not purchased green onions for years other than for our demonstrations and experiments.

From the shoots, snip off whatever amount which you need. The onion will still continue to grow indefinitely, usually larger than those found in the grocery store.

Alternately these onion greens can be started from water by standing the sliced off ends in a small jar with water in it until the green shoots begin to develop. Follow the same procedure as for planting them by placing the jar in sunny location. Change the water weekly and keep the roots moist. When the shoots reach five inches in length replant the onion in a pot of soil. If they are kept in the jar of water too long, they will eventually weaken and stop producing. My thoughts are I will reduce the risk of failure and encourage healthy plants by initially placing them in a good quality soil.

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