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EASIEST TO START OUTDOORS

Plant scallions throughout the spring and again in mid to late summer for fall harvests. Sow seeds in well-worked, fertile soil in full sun. Space seeds 1 inch apart in rows 8 to 10 inches apart, or broadcast thinly for bed planting. Cover 1/2 inch deep and firm soil well over seeds. Be sure to keep soil evenly moist to ensure good germination.

THIN OR TRANSPLANT

Space 1 to 2 inches apart, allowing plants room to mature.

GROWING NOTES

Scallions take up little garden space, so tuck several rows around beds of lettuce, spinach or radishes. Make several plantings a month apart to have a constant supply for spring and summer meals. Prepare soil well with lots of aged manure or compost before planting. Keep evenly moist and weed carefully when plants are young. Mulching to conserve soil moisture and suppress weed growth is a good strategy.

HARVEST AND USE

To get the most out of your crop, start by using tender, mild-flavored early thinnings in salads, then continue thinning gradually so mature scallions stand an inch or two apart. These tasty scallions are best if harvested at 10 to 12 inches tall or before they send up bloom stalks, which makes the stems turn tough and too spicy.