How to Grow Spring Onions in NZ: When to Sow and Harvest
Updated October 2026
Sown from August to April in most regions. Slice above the roots for cut-and-come-again harvests and they regrow in weeks. Succession sow every three to four weeks for a continuous supply.
🌱 Plant profile: Spring Onion, with sowing times for your region, companion plants and common pests.
When to Sow Spring Onions in Your Region
Spring onions are sown from late winter right through to autumn. These are the sowing months for each of our nine New Zealand regions, straight from our planting data. Each region links to its vegetable planting calendar, and the Spring onion plant page has spacing, companions and care notes for your region.
| Region | Sow | Local note |
|---|---|---|
| Northland | August to April | Effectively frost free. |
| Auckland | August to April | Effectively frost free. |
| Waikato & Bay of Plenty | August to April | Frosts on average from 5 May to 25 September. |
| Central North Island | August to April | Frosts on average from 15 April to 15 October. |
| Wellington & Lower North Island | August to April | Frosts on average from 10 June to 30 August. |
| Nelson & Marlborough | August to April | Frosts on average from 10 May to 20 September. |
| Canterbury | August to April | Frosts on average from 20 April to 10 October. |
| Otago & Southland | August to March | Sow Aug to Mar. Cover early sowings with a cloche or frost cloth, as frosts run to late October. Get the last sowing in by Mar so it sizes up before winter growth stops. |
| Central Otago | September to March | Start spring sowings in Sep; the soil is too cold before then. Make the last sowing in Mar so the crop is ready before winter growth stops. |
From Northland to Canterbury, including the central North Island, our data sows spring onions from August to April, which leaves out only May, June and July. Otago and Southland sow from August to March, covering early sowings with a cloche or frost cloth while frosts last, and Central Otago from September to March, because the soil is too cold before then. In both southern regions, make the last sowing in March so the crop is ready before winter growth stops.
Best spring onion varieties for NZ
- Straight Leaf (White Lisbon type), Classic white-stemmed spring onion; quick and dependable. (Kings Seeds, Yates NZ, Mitre 10)
- Red Stem, Mild spring onion with attractive red-tinged stems for salads. (Egmont Seeds, Kings Seeds)
How to grow spring onion
- Space plants about 10cm apart.
- Sow seed around 1cm deep.
- Position: full sun.
- Ready to harvest in roughly 60 days.
- Seeds germinate in about 5 days.
How to Sow Spring Onions
- Choose full sun and loose, fertile, well drained soil.
- Sow direct, about 1 cm deep, in a close row or a clump. Seedlings appear in about 5 days.
- Thin to about 10 cm apart as you pick, using the thinnings in the kitchen.
- Keep the moisture even for steady, tender growth, and feed lightly with nitrogen.
- Sow again every three to four weeks for a continuous supply.
For milder, paler stems, draw a little soil up around the stems as they grow, which blanches a longer white base.
How Long Do Spring Onions Take?
Our plant data allows about 60 days from sowing to harvest. They are ready once the white base has thickened and the tops stand firm. Pull them straight up from loose soil, or cut the tops and leave the roots in the ground to regrow. Spring onions keep for up to a week wrapped in a damp cloth in the fridge, and stems stood in water on the bench regrow.
Growing Spring Onions in Pots
Spring onions are one of the easiest crops for a pot. Our plant data calls for a pot of at least 15 cm, so a window box or a small trough works. Our spring onions in pots guide covers pots and regrowing in more detail.
Companion planting
Grow spring onion near: Carrot, Lettuce, Tomato.
Pests and problems
Watch for: Thrips. See our NZ pest and disease guide for organic control.
🌱 Plant Spring Onion in your garden →FAQ
When is the best time to plant spring onion in New Zealand?
From Northland to Canterbury, sow spring onions from August to April. Otago and Southland sow from August to March, and Central Otago from September to March. Sow every three to four weeks through that window for a steady supply.
Where can I buy spring onion seeds or plants in NZ?
Try Kings Seeds, Yates NZ, Mitre 10.
Can you grow spring onions all year in NZ?
Not quite. Our data sows spring onions from August to April in most regions, leaving out May to July, and from August or September to March in Otago, Southland and Central Otago. Succession sowing every three to four weeks keeps you picking for most of the year.
How long do spring onions take to grow?
About 60 days from sowing, according to our plant data. They are ready once the white base has thickened and the tops stand firm.
Do spring onions grow back after cutting?
Yes. Cut the tops and leave the roots in the soil, and they regrow in weeks. Spring onions stood in water on the bench regrow too.
Can I grow spring onions in a pot?
Yes. A pot at least 15 cm deep is enough. Sow thickly, keep the mix evenly moist, and cut the tops as you need them.
Plant profile
The spring onion profile has sowing times for your region, companion plants and common pests.