Norann Oleson, Editorial Director of Food Gardening Network

Welcome to the fun and flavorful world of growing your own scallions!

Onions, including scallions, are the third most consumed fresh vegetable in the United States. And luckily for us, they’re available in supermarket produce sections all year long.

But you don’t have to make a trip to the market to get great scallions—you can grow you own delicious scallions at home! Even better, you can grow some of the varieties that aren’t available in your local market. And if you want to, you can keep your own scallions growing and producing year-round!

Scallions are so popular and so easy to grow. That’s why we’ve prepared this all-in-one guide for you about growing, harvesting, and eating—with some easy-to-prepare and tasty recipes—your own home-grown scallions.

In this collection’s Introduction, you’ll first learn some history and basics about scallions—to get you ready for growing your own. Then, in the Feature Articles, you’ll get specifics about growing scallions—from types of plants and soil preparation to watering, weeding, and controlling and preventing disease.

If you’re already an advanced scallion and food gardener, some of this may be refresher content for you. But, stick with it, because you’re certain to learn something new, especially when it comes to the history of scallions and the recipes!

In Plant Profiles, you’ll learn about six popular varieties of scallions; these are varieties that you’re not likely to see at the market. You might see them at your local farm stand; if you have a chance to try some before you buy seeds or starts, you can get a preview of what your garden will be like. Or you can just be adventurous and pick a few varieties to try.

While there are hundreds of varieties of scallions (estimates put the number at over 700), we’ve chosen these six scallion plant profiles because they represent the scallion family well and offer you some variety; instead of the same old same old, you have a broader variety of choices. If you’d like us to include another scallion variety that appeals to you, please let me know by commenting below.

We are, after all, a network of food gardeners—for and by fellow food gardeners—who want to enjoy all the benefits of growing our own delicious food at home!

One of the things that makes Food Gardening Network unique is the assortment of super easy and delicious Recipes, so that you can enjoy the fruits of your gardening labor. Scallions are no exception!

These scallion recipes include uses for salads, stir fry dishes, sauces, and—of course—the famous scallion pancake. That’s one recipe you may be going back to again and again, it’s so delicious! You will be sure to delight everyone at your table when you prepare scallions any of these ways, and these dishes should become staples in your household. Enjoy your scallion harvest with these tasty recipes, and your family and friends will appreciate all of your scallion gardening efforts!

Next, you’ll learn Nutrition Facts about Scallions to find out exactly which nutrients are found in scallions—and to what degree—and the most common compounds. Home Remedies & Health Benefits of Scallions will help you learn about how key nutrients in scallions can help prevent some diseases, such as heart disease and some forms of cancer. You’ll also learn all about other benefits and uses for scallions, besides just enjoying their garden-fresh deliciousness.

To help you explore the wonderful world of scallions even further, we’ve included a Resources section that is complementary to this collection. We aim to give you everything you need to grow, harvest, and eat delicious scallions, but feel free to take a deeper dive into these additional resources by visiting the links provided.

Finally, you’ll find a brief Glossary at the end of this collection in case you need a fuller explanation of any key terms and concepts.

Now, go and get ready to get your scallions settled in and growing!