How to Grow Spring Onion in New Zealand
Year-round in the warm north. 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.
When to plant spring onion in New Zealand
Timing is everything in New Zealand, where the warm north and the cooler south are weeks apart. Sow or plant in these months for your region:
| Region | When to sow or plant |
|---|---|
| Northland | January, February, March, April, August, September, October, November, December |
| Auckland | January, February, March, April, August, September, October, November, December |
| Waikato & BoP | January, February, March, April, August, September, October, November, December |
| Wellington | January, February, March, April, August, September, October, November, December |
| Nelson & Marlborough | January, February, March, April, August, September, October, November, December |
| Canterbury | January, February, March, April, August, September, October, November, December |
| Otago & Southland | January, February, March, April, August, September, October, November, December |
| Central Otago | January, February, March, April, August, September, October, November, December |
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.
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.
For a calendar tuned to your exact region, see the New Zealand planting guides or the Spring Onion plant page.
FAQ
When is the best time to plant spring onion in New Zealand?
In the warm north (Auckland, Northland) sow in January, February, March, April, August, September, October, November, December. Cooler regions plant a little later. Check the table above for your region.
Where can I buy spring onion seeds or plants in NZ?
Try Kings Seeds, Yates NZ, Mitre 10.