Green onions—also called scallions or spring onions—are among the easiest vegetables to regrow at home. With nothing more than a few store-bought stalks, a cup of water, and a sunny windowsill, you can enjoy a continuous supply of fresh, fragrant green onions for soups, noodles, omelets, stir-fries, and more.
This regrowing technique is so simple that even complete beginners can succeed on the first try. In fact, green onions can regrow several times from the same base, saving you money, reducing kitchen waste, and keeping your meals packed with homegrown freshness.
In this 1200-word guide, you’ll learn how to regenerate green onions from store-bought stalks, how to transfer them to soil for bigger harvests, and how to maintain an endless supply with almost no effort.
Why Regrow Green Onions?
Green onions are perfect for home regrowing because:
- They sprout extremely fast—new growth begins within 24–48 hours.
- They only need water or simple soil, not complicated fertilizers.
- They grow well indoors, even in small spaces.
- They can be harvested multiple times.
- They reduce kitchen waste by reusing the root base.
Instead of throwing away the white root ends after cooking, you can turn them into a mini indoor garden.
Step 1: Choosing Good Store-Bought Green Onions
To regrow green onions effectively, start with healthy stalks. When shopping, look for:
- Fresh white bases with visible roots
- Firm stalks (not soft, yellow, or wilted)
- Roots at least 1–2 cm long
- Bright green leaves
Avoid green onions that look slimy, brown, or severely dried out.
Organic or locally grown scallions tend to regrow more vigorously, but even regular store onions usually work well.
Step 2: Preparing the Green Onion Bases
After bringing your green onions home:
- Use the green tops for cooking as usual.
- Leave 5–7 cm of the white stalk attached to the roots.
- Rinse the root base gently to remove any soil.
- Trim excess slimy roots if any (optional but helpful).
These trimmed bottoms will become your new plants.
Step 3: Regrow Green Onions in Water
This is the easiest and fastest method. All you need is a glass or jar.
How to Set It Up:
- Place the green onion bases in a glass with the roots facing down.
- Add just enough water to cover the roots — do not submerge the entire base.
- Put the glass on a windowsill where it gets bright, indirect sunlight.
- Change the water every 1–2 days to prevent odor or bacterial growth.
What Happens Next?
- Within 24 hours, the top of the onion begins to stretch upward.
- By day 3–4, new green shoots appear clearly.
- After 7–10 days, you’ll have full stalks ready for harvest.
Green onions grown in water are crisp, clean, and mild in flavor.
Step 4: Transplant to Soil for Bigger, Longer Harvests
While water regrowing is easy, transferring to soil gives much stronger roots and faster regrowth. You can regrow the same onion bases for 8–12 weeks when planted in soil.
Soil Requirements:
Use a light, fluffy mix such as:
- 50% garden soil
- 30% compost
- 20% sand or coconut coir
Green onions do not like heavy, compacted soil.
Planting Method:
- Fill a pot or garden bed with moist soil.
- Make small holes 2–3 cm deep.
- Insert the onion bases with roots down and white shoots above soil.
- Space each one 2–3 cm apart—they grow well in clusters.
- Water gently.
Best Pot Size:
- Depth: 10–15 cm
- Width: Any size
- Drainage holes required
Green onions thrive even in plastic cups, trays, boxes, or small recycled containers.
Step 5: Provide the Perfect Growing Conditions
Light
Green onions love good light:
- Indoors: Bright windowsill, 4–6 hours sunlight
- Outdoors: Morning sun + light afternoon shade
If growing indoors and light is low, growth will be slower but still successful.
Watering
Green onions prefer moist but not soggy soil.
- Water lightly every 2–3 days.
- Ensure the pot drains well.
- If tips turn brown, the soil is too dry.
Temperature
Ideal temperature: 18–28°C
Below 10°C, growth slows significantly.
Step 6: Feeding Your Green Onions
Green onions don’t need heavy fertilizer, but mild feeding improves yield.
Feed once every 2–3 weeks:
- Diluted compost tea
- Banana peel water
- Seaweed extract
- Worm castings mixed into soil
Avoid strong chemical fertilizers — green onions absorb nutrients quickly, and too much can cause overly soft growth.
Step 7: How to Harvest Properly
One big mistake beginners make is pulling the entire plant from the root. Don’t do this if you want continuous harvests!
Correct Method:
- Use scissors to cut the green leaves 3–5 cm above the white base.
- Leave the roots in soil or water.
The plant will regrow from the remaining white stem.
Harvest Frequency:
- In water: Every 5–7 days
- In soil: Every 4–6 days (faster regrowth)
With good care, a single batch of green onions can be harvested 6–10 times.
Step 8: Endless Regrowing Cycle
Here’s how to keep an unlimited supply:
- Every time you buy new green onions, save the root ends.
- Add them to your water or soil container.
- As older bases stop regrowing (after several weeks), remove and compost them.
- Replace with fresh ones from the store.
This creates a constant rotation of plants, ensuring you never run out.
Common Problems & Easy Fixes
Problem: Green onions turn floppy or yellow.
Cause: Too little light.
Fix: Move to a sunnier spot.
Problem: Water smells bad.
Cause: Water not changed regularly.
Fix: Replace water daily or every other day.
Problem: No regrowth after several days.
Cause: Dead or old roots.
Fix: Try fresher, healthier green onions.
Problem: Brown leaf tips.
Cause: Dry soil or low humidity.
Fix: Increase watering slightly.
Tips for Bigger, Greener, Faster Growth
- Choose onion bases with long, healthy roots.
- Keep the water level just enough to cover roots—no higher.
- Give them at least 4 hours of light daily.
- Use nutrient-rich soil for long-term growing.
- Trim often — regular harvesting stimulates faster regrowth.
- Grow in clusters to save space and keep soil moist.
Final Thoughts
Regrowing green onions from store-bought roots is one of the easiest and most satisfying home gardening projects. It requires almost no space, zero gardening experience, and minimal supplies. Whether you grow them in a glass of water on your kitchen counter or in a small pot on your balcony, green onions will reward you with quick, continuous harvests.