Spring Onion 'White Lisbon'

Where to Plant
Plant Spring Onion 'White Lisbon' in a sunny, sheltered position with fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. It grows best in neutral to slightly alkaline conditions, so if you know your soil is strongly acidic, it's worth testing the pH before making any adjustments. Remove weeds before planting and work in well-rotted garden compost if the soil needs improving, but avoid freshly manured ground.

Planting
Plant the young seedlings carefully, spacing them around 5cm apart, with approximately 15–20cm between rows. Set the roots securely into the soil without burying the stems deeply, gently firm around them and water thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots.

Watering & Feeding
Keep newly planted spring onions well watered while they establish, particularly during dry weather. Once established, they generally need little additional watering through cool, wet periods, but don't allow the soil to become waterlogged. As growth picks up in spring, water during dry spells to keep the stems growing steadily and tender.

Spring onions don't need heavy feeding when grown in fertile soil. If growth needs a boost as plants become active in spring, apply a balanced vegetable fertiliser according to the manufacturer's instructions. Avoid excessive high-nitrogen feeding, which can encourage lots of soft leafy growth.

Winter Care
'White Lisbon' is well suited to overwintering, but good drainage is important during prolonged wet weather. In colder or exposed gardens, horticultural fleece or a cloche can provide additional protection during severe weather. Lift or ventilate protection during milder spells to maintain good airflow around the plants.

Weeding
Spring onions have relatively shallow roots and don't compete well with weeds. Keep the growing area clear, but weed carefully by hand or hoe very shallowly to avoid disturbing the roots.

Pests & Problems
Onion fly and allium leaf miner can affect spring onions, while persistently damp conditions can encourage fungal diseases. Good spacing, free-draining soil and keeping the bed weed free all help maintain healthy growth. Where allium leaf miner is a known problem, fine insect-proof mesh can help protect the crop.

Good Companions
Spring Onion 'White Lisbon' fits easily between other vegetables because its narrow, upright growth takes up very little space. Grow it alongside crops such as lettuce, beetroot and brassicas, or use short rows to make productive use of gaps in your vegetable beds.

Make the Most of Your Space
Because spring onions are harvested while they're still young and slender, they don't need the room required by full-sized bulb onions. This makes them particularly useful for raised beds, smaller vegetable plots and containers where every bit of growing space counts.

Crop Rotation
Spring onions belong to the allium family along with bulb onions, garlic, shallots and leeks. Avoid repeatedly growing alliums in exactly the same ground. Moving them around your plot can help reduce the build-up of soil-borne problems such as onion white rot.

Top Tip:
Harvest individual spring onions as they reach the size you want rather than pulling the whole row at once. This lets you enjoy them at their crispest while giving smaller plants more time to develop.

When to Harvest
Autumn-planted 'White Lisbon' can be harvested in early spring once the stems have reached a useful size. There's no need to wait for a bulb to develop – spring onions are at their best while the white stems are still young, slender and tender.

How to Harvest
Gently pull individual plants from moist soil as you need them. If the ground is firm, loosen the soil around the roots first rather than pulling hard on the leaves.

Pick What You Need
Start with the largest spring onions and leave smaller plants in place to continue growing. This naturally spreads your harvest and means you can enjoy freshly pulled stems over a longer period.

Top Tip:
Don't throw away the green tops. They're tender and full of flavour and can be finely sliced into salads, stir-fries, noodles, omelettes and plenty more.

Flavour & Texture
'White Lisbon' has crisp white stems and a fresh, mild onion flavour. Both the white stem and green leaves are edible, giving you plenty to use from every plant.

Best Enjoyed
Slice them raw into salads and sandwiches, scatter over noodles and stir-fries or use as a fresh garnish for soups and savoury dishes. The mild flavour also makes them great for adding a little onion bite without overpowering other ingredients.

Preparing Your Spring Onions
Trim away the roots and any damaged leaf tips, then wash thoroughly to remove any soil around the base. The white and green parts can both be chopped, sliced or cooked whole.

Storage
Spring onions are at their crispest soon after harvesting. If you're not using them straight away, keep them refrigerated and use within a few days.

Plug Plants & Seedlings
Our plug plants and seedlings are healthy young plants ready to grow on or plant into their final growing position, depending on the crop. Handle them carefully when planting, water thoroughly afterwards and keep the soil evenly moist while they establish.

Garden Ready Plants
Our Garden Ready plants have been professionally grown on, making them larger and more established. They're ready to plant straight into their final growing position, giving you a useful head start towards your harvest.

Upon Arrival
Remove your plants from their packaging as soon as they arrive and check the moisture level. Water if needed and plant as soon as possible. If you can't plant immediately, keep them in a sheltered position and don't allow the roots or compost to dry out.