Retired banker grows 200 plants on rooftop, shares spring onion secrets

Spring onions, also known as green onions or salad onions, are crunchy and mild. They add freshness to salads, soups, and curries. Unlike regular onions, spring onions are harvested young. This makes them perfect for home gardens, even in small spaces like balconies.

Ashok Rao, a 68-year-old retired banker in Hyderabad, India, is a great example of urban gardening. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he turned his 2,000-square-foot rooftop into an organic garden. He grows over 200 plants, including spring onions, coriander, mint, and tomatoes.

For Ashok, gardening is more than a hobby. It provides healthy food, peace of mind, and sustainable meals. His experience offers useful tips for growing spring onions and for home gardening in general.

Choosing the Right Spot and Containers

Spring onions love sunlight and soil that drains well.

• Pick a sunny spot that gets four to six hours of direct sunlight daily.
• Use pots, grow bags, window boxes, or terrace planters with good drainage holes.
• Choose containers 20 to 25 cm deep to give roots enough room.

Ashok's rooftop garden shows that plenty of space and sunlight can boost harvests. However, spring onions can also grow well in smaller containers with proper care.

Preparing Quality Soil

Good soil is key for healthy plants.

• Mix garden soil with compost and organic matter. This creates a light, nutrient-rich soil.
• You can use vermicompost or homemade compost, just like Ashok does. This enriches the soil naturally.

Aim for soil that is loamy and well-aerated. It should drain easily but still hold moisture for the roots.

Planting Spring Onion Seeds or Sets

You can grow spring onions from seeds or from small onion sets (tiny bulbs).

From seeds:

• Sow seeds half to one centimeter deep. Space them about two to three centimeters apart.
• Cover lightly with soil and water gently.

From sets:

• Place each set two to three centimeters deep. Plant them five to seven centimeters apart.
• Make sure the pointed end faces upwards.

No matter which method you choose, keep the soil lightly moist. Avoid making it waterlogged.

Watering Regularly

Spring onions need steady moisture, especially when they are young.

• Water once or twice a week. Water more often in hot weather.
• Do not overwater, as soggy soil can cause root rot.

Ashok says regular care is vital for healthy plants and good harvests in his rooftop garden.

Feeding Your Plants Organically

For strong growth:

• Apply organic fertilizer or compost tea every three to four weeks.
• Avoid harsh chemical fertilizers, especially for edible greens.

Organic matter feeds plants and improves soil structure. Ashok achieves this by composting kitchen waste, leaves, and cow dung for his garden.

Keeping Pests Away

Spring onions are usually easy to care for, but pests can sometimes appear.

• Use natural pest deterrents like neem oil sprays. You can also plant herbs that repel pests nearby.
• Ashok sprays neem oil regularly as part of his organic pest control.

Avoid chemical pesticides if you plan to eat the greens.

Harvesting at the Right Time

Spring onions grow quickly.

• You can start harvesting when the stems are 15-20 cm tall.
• Snip the greens as you need them. New shoots will keep growing.

You harvest the green tops and young stems, not the bulb. This means you can take what you need and let the rest grow more.

Enjoying Fresh, Homegrown Flavor

Once your spring onions are ready, use them fresh in salads, stir-fries, soups, and dips. Growing your own means you will enjoy much better flavor than store-bought greens.

Ashok and his wife often plan their meals around what is fresh from their garden. They make dishes like tomato rice and herb-flavored meals that change with the seasons.

Growing spring onions at home is an easy and rewarding project. It works whether you have a balcony, terrace, or small garden. Gardening can be a source of peace, health, and daily joy. It's a way to connect with nature right where you live.