As lovers of flavorful garnishes, my wife and I have always cherished the fresh, sweet, and subtly pungent flavor of spring onions in our home-cooked dishes. However, our busy work schedules which prevented us from cooking more often than we love to do so, left us with a bunch of store-bought spring onions that would perish before we could use them all. Frustrated with the waste and eager to enjoy fresh spring onions whenever we pleased, we embarked on a journey to grow our own supply at home ✌️
spring onions
On one random weekend while doing some research, we stumbled upon a soil-free, water-based method that seemed easy and promising. While our initial attempts yielded only limited success, we learned from our mistakes and eventually discovered a practical solution that now provides us with fresh spring onions every other week 🤓
The Journey Begins
The idea of growing our own spring onions came about as a response to the recurring problem of store-bought bunches perishing quickly. We decided it was time to take matters into our own hands and began searching for a guide online 😤
The First Attempt
We found a guide that advocated growing spring onions without any soil, using only water. This approach appealed to us as it promised a neat and hassle-free gardening experience. Excited by the prospect, we started our project immediately! This was 3 Saturdays ago to give you some context on the speed of growth! Initially, the spring onions seemed to be growing well, but after a week or so, their growth stalled, and we were left with only a few sparse stalks 😢
Identifying the Issue
Determined to figure out what went wrong, we turned to the internet once more for answers. It was during this research that we stumbled upon someone with a similar experience who suggested that prolonged soaking of the roots in water could damage the plant, leading it to rot and hence the growth stalled 😖
The Second Attempt - An Improvised Solution
Equipped with this newfound knowledge, we decided to give it another try. However, we were still determined to keep the process as effortless and neat as possible, which meant avoiding the use of traditional soil. We came up with an innovative solution: a plastic bottle-based system 😅
Step-by-Step Process:
- Cut an opening in a plastic bottle to create a small planting space.
- Stuff the bottom of the bottle with a slightly soaked paper towel, providing the necessary moisture for the plant.
- Lay the freshly sprouted onions on top of the moist paper towel and let nature take its course!
With the new setup, our daily task was as simple as sprinkling water over the bottle to maintain the moisture level of the paper towel bearing in mind to not overdo it in case we "drown" the plant once again! This proved to be sufficient for the spring onions to thrive. Once they grew to a desirable length, we carefully cut them close to the roots, encouraging fresh growth for the next batch 😋
Success Achieved
This innovative approach proved to be a resounding success. By eliminating the risk of root rot and ensuring adequate moisture through the paper towel, we now have a steady supply of fresh spring onions. The entire process is remarkably low maintenance, and we enjoy the convenience of having our garnish ready at hand 😉
The journey to growing our own spring onions at home has been an exciting one, filled with valuable lessons and rewarding outcomes. By embracing a water-based, soil-free approach, making clever adjustments to the setup, we have overcome the initial challenges and now enjoy a constant supply of fresh, aromatic spring onions. If you're a fan of this delightful garnish and also want to avoid wastage, I highly recommend giving this method a try. Happy gardening and bon appétit! 🤤
Oh yeah as promised, this is my little plant project that I wanted to show you @missleray
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All images used in this post were taken from my iPhone