Ready to continue scratching that gardening itch? Welcome to the second part in our series of doing just that! Here in the winter gardening itch chapter two, we’ll continue with indoor plant propagation in preparation for Spring.
MOVING ON with RE-GROWING SPRING ONIONS
We use spring onions in cooking quite a bit. So we try to pick some up from our local farmer’s market whenever available. In the winter months though we try to maintain our own supply.
Credit: Karolina Grabowska
After propagating my African violets in part one, We’ll move forward by expanding our fresh herb collection in the kitchen. I usually start with spring onions. As these are the easiest and quickest to start.
We use spring onions in cooking quite a bit. So we try to pick some up from our local farmer’s market whenever available. In the winter months though we try to maintain our own supply. I simply cut the root tips off about an inch up the stem. Then let them dry out for a day or two.
Credit: Karolina Grabowska
I simply cut the root tips off about an inch up the stem. Then let them dry out for a day or two.
I tend to lean toward terra-cotta pots for our kitchen herbs. Their porous nature protects the plants from root rot while allowing the roots to breathe.
HOW to RE-GROW SPRING ONIONS
I use a basic potting soil (that I get from the $1 store). Then soak the soil and let it drain really well before I add the onion root stubs.
I grab an up-cycled popsicle stick from last summer’s frozen treats (a great gardening tool!). Then make as many 1/4″ holes in the saturated soil as will fit comfortably.
I then place one root stub in each hole, pressing the surrounding soil firmly down around the root stub. Doing this ensures there are no air pockets in which harmful bacteria could grow.
Once all are snuggly tucked in, I give them a bit more water to encourage the roots to reach out for it and establish themselves in the pot.
I place the pot(s) in a sunny, kitchen window and within a week or two, we have enough growth to start cooking with! (By-the-by, I follow this same process with leaks, with just one root stub per pot, and it works great.)
Now you’re getting the hang of it! I hope you give this easy way to give scratching the winter gardening itch a try and in no time at all, you’ll have a very inexpensive yet highly rewarding fresh kitchen herb supply of your own! Visit Starting Seeds Indoors in Early Spring where I’ll be planting the first veggie crop seeds of this year’s growing season.
Find this interesting and educational?
Feel free to share it!
Interested in free access
to more like this?
YOUR GARDEN HOME
Interacting with the Earth is one of our most primal instincts. In this age of technology and industry, its critical that we nurture that instinct for our own health and well-being. The more you grow, the more YOU grow.
